TH£ 

(  UNIVERSITY    ) 
or 


GIFT   OF 


b 


.* 


*.  *  i  ••  •/•  •**."!       *  .**. 


AT  THE  CLUB 


ATHONIA 


OR, 


The  Original  Four  Hundred 


BY 

H.  GEORGE   SCHUETTE 

Author  of  the  "American  Girl,"    "American  Beauty," 
"Our  Nation   Grand,"  etc. 


THE     LAKESIDE     CO. 

MANITOWOC,   WIS. 


,5** 


COPYRIGHT  1910 
BY 

H.  GEORGE  SCHUETTE 
u.  s.  A. 


ENTERED  AT  STATIONER'S  HALL, 
LONDON,  ENGLAND 


TROW  DIRECTORY 
PRINTING  AND   BOOKBINDING  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK 


Now  write  this  into  a  book  ! 

And  millions  will  be  pleased  to  look 

Its  pages  o'er — 

Know  things  not  known  before. 

— Zenothemis 


23S413 


PEEPACE 

It  may  be  claimed  that  this  book  has  several  missions  besides  em 
phasizing  the  useful  factor  that  Commerce  is  in  hastening  the  brother 
hood  of  mankind  among  nations. 

Marvelous  inventions  have  not  yet  been  shown  to  have  a  tendency 
toward  improving  the  human  race  physically.  The  only  means  per 
haps  of  attaining  the  most  important  and  desirable  end  is  suggested  to 
the  reader  in  this  narrative.  That  a  standard  toward  perfect  manhood 
and  womanhood  would  lower  the  ravages  of  the  so-called  white  plague 
as  well  as  all  other  ills  that  human  flesh  is  heir  to,  is  self-evident. 

The  original  "Four  Hundred"  of  which  this  story  treats,  were  not 
an  aristocracy  of  wealth  merely,  but  were  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  society, 
because  of  the  high  standing  of  their  ancestors  and  their  personal, 
natural  and  acquired  superiority,  manifested  in  their  shapely  forms, 
strength,  health,  courage,  learning  and  beauty. 

That  centuries  before  Columbus  discovered  America,  both  Euro 
peans  and  Asiatics,  more  frequently  the  latter,  had  landed  in  America, 
the  following  pages  attempt  to  prove  beyond  conjecture. 

What  laws  a  community,  consisting  of  young  men  and  women 
graduates  from  the  highest  institutions  of  learning,  if  set  in  a  fertile 
but  distant  and  heretofore  unknown  land,  would  form  in  establishing 
an  "Athonia,"  are  here  set  forth  for  the  consideration  of  the  reader. 


CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION 


PAGE 

n 


CHAPTER 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 
XVIII. 

XIX. 
XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 
XXIII. 
XXIV. 

XXV. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  STORY   .     .     .     .     .     .     .  23 

ATHENIAN  COMMERCIALISM  .......     '.  36 

THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  GREAT  SHIP  AEOLUS      .     .  48 

THE    PERSONNEL    COMPRISING    THE   GREAT   SHIP'S 

VOYAGERS       .     .     .........  52 

THE  SHIP'S  DEPARTURE  FROM  PHALERUM,  ATHENS'S 


SEAPORT  \     .     ..........  80 

RECORDS  OF  THE  SCRIBES  ON  THE  SHIP  .     .     .     .  121 

THE  SHIP  LANDS  AT  GYTHIUM  .     .     .     .     ...  135 

THE  SHIP  DEPARTS  FROM  GYTHIUM  FOR  PYLOS     .     .  235 

SAILING  TO  SICILY     .     .     .     .     ...     .     .     .  249 

THE  HERMIT  OF  THE  SEA    ........  255 

SYRACUSE   .     .     .     .     .     ,     .     .     .     .     .     .     .  266 

SAILING  WEST  FROM  SYRACUSE      .     .  .  •*     .     .     .  285 

TAKING  BAPTISM  OF  THE  SEA  .     .     .     ...     .     .  288 

PIRATE'S  ISLAND  ...........  295 

A  WHISTLING  LANGUAGE      ........  302 

PHILOSOPHIZING  ON  SIZE  OF  SUN,  MOON  AND  FLAT 

EARTH  .............  317 

ANAXOGEROUS  SCENTS  A  PLOT       ......  328 

THE  PILLARS  OF  HERCULES!     .......  333 

SAILING  WEST  ON  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN  OCEAN    .  355 

THE  SHIP  AEOLUS  RUN  ON  LAND  ......  370 

NAMING  THEIR  CITY  ..........  378 

MORPHONIUS'S  DREAM    .........  400 

CAPTAIN  ARTEUS  SPEAKS     ........  460 

SHIP  BUILT  BY  YOUNG  ATHONIANS     .....  469 

ADDENDUM  .............  477 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
AT  THE  CLUB Frontispiece 

PAGE 

DOME  OF  GRANT'S  TOMB 16 

DELHURST'S  LIBRARY 17 

THE  ACROPOLIS  AT  ATHENS 36 

THE  WARRIOR 59 

PHILOSTENES    HOLDING    THE    FAREWELL    ADDRESS    TO    THE 

COMMERCIAL  ADVENTURERS  OF  THE  SHIP  AEOLUS     ...  92 

THE  AEOLUS  SAILS  ON  ITS  COMMERCIAL  VOYAGE      115 

THE  HERMIT  OF  THE  SEA 256 

ALL  THE  VOYAGERS,  INCLUDING  THE  MAIDENS,  INDUED  WITH 

COMMERCIAL  CRAFT  REFINED 280 

IRIS  ARCHES  THE  STRAITS  OF  HERCULEUM  WITH  A  BEAUTIFUL 

RAINBOW 354 

CONSPIRACY  TO  SAIL  THE  SHIP  AEOLUS  AND  ITS  FOUR  HUNDRED 

OVER  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD     365 

THE  SHIP  Poseidon  AND  ITS  FIVE  ATHONIAN  YOUNG  COUPLES 

ON  THEIR  DARING  ATTEMPT  TO  SAIL  TO  ATHENS     .   .   .  475 

THE  RED  ARK  CONTAINING  THE  WHOLE  STORY  OF  THE  GRECIAN 

COMMERCIAL  ADVENTURE 478 


INTRODUCTION 

When  the  golden-rods  are  swaying, 

And  the  purple  asters  wave, 
'Tis  as  though  we  bear  them  saying: 

Summer  soon  will  seek  its  grave, 
And  brown  autumn  soon  will  spread 
Leaves  and  acorns  brown  and  red 
O'er  the  sod  with  chilly  blast — 
Soon  fair  summertime  is  past; 

and  the  summer  resorts  will  soon  be  deserted  by  the  pilgrimage 
that  always  sets  in  at  this  season  for  the  city  homes.  The  city  club- 
rooms  during  the  summer  days  are  quite  deserted;  but  at  the  close  of 
the  outing  season  club  life  again  asserts  itself. 

It  was  an  evening  in  the  latter  part  of  September  when  a  number 
of  the  younger  members  of  one  of  the  most  fashionable  and  aristocratic 
clubs  of  the  great  metropolis  of  our  country  met  in  social  converse,  at 
which  several  of  the  number  recounted  their  midsummer  pleasures  and 
experiences. 

ENGLISH-AMERICAN  BALL, 

Walt  Ingford  said:  "I  never  enjoyed  myself  more  in  my  life  than 
I  did  at  an  English-American  ball,  as  it  may  be  called,  at  one  of  our 
most  prominent  seaside  summer  resorts.  A  number  of  us  decided  to 
give  a  ball  in  honor  of  several  ladies  and  gentlemen,  of  London,  with 
whom  we  had  formed  an  agreeable  acquaintance. 

"The  finest  hotel  hall  was  secured  and  expert  decorators  hired,  who 
spared  no  pains  in  decorating  the  handsome  hall  with  palms,  ferns  and 
flowers  in  profusion.  British  and  American  flags  were  conspicuous 
among  the  festoons  in  various  parts  of  the  hall,  among  which  were 
two  artistically-fashioned  floral  designs,  one  'England'  and  the  other 
'America,'  as  we  call  our  United  States,  as  it  is  the  only  nation  that 
has  the  word  America  in  its  name. 

"One  of  these  designs  was  placed  in  the  east  and  the  other  in 
the  west  end  of  the  hall.  The  tastefully  printed  'Order  of  Dances'  was 
embellished  with  the  British  and  American  coats-of-arms. 

"The  dance  opened  with  a  grand  march,  led  by  Mr.  D of  Eng 
land  and  Miss  M of  Philadelphia.  There  were  six  young  English 

ladies  and  five  gentlemen.  My  partner  was  a  Miss  R of  London, 

said  to  be  a  distant  relative  of  the  royal  family.  Dancing  continued 

11 


12  7 'he  Original  Four  Hundred 

until  towards  morning.  A  number  of  New  York's  elite  came  to  attend 
the  ball  as  spectators. 

"After  the  supper,  which  was  followed  later  on  by  dancing  again, 
several  speeches  or  remarks  were  made  both  by  guests  and  hosts. 

"Mr.  H ,  of  England,  said,  after  speaking  of  the  kind  reception, 

honor  and  so  forth,  that  in  no  country  in  the  world  can  an  Englishman 
travel  and  feel  so  much  at  home  as  in  the  great,  prosperous  country  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  'And  in  regard  to  its  young  men,'  he 
said,  'they  are  royal  fellows  indeed. 

"  'As  to  the  typical  American  girl,  well,  I  ought  to  stop  and  not  say 
a  word;  for  I  remember  that  I  have  read  that  exceptional  beauty  and 
worth  stand  not  in  need  of  praise.  We  cannot  blame,  nor  can  our 
young  American  friends  here  blame  our  nobility  of  England  and  princes 
and  barons  of  other  European  countries  for  being  fascinated  by  the 
debonair  ways  of  your  American  girls.  Many  of  the  most  influential 
women  in  London  life  today,  as  well  as  in  other  European  capitals,  in 
all  ranks,  from  commoners  to  duchesses,  were  born  and  educated  under 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  And  I  believe  it  is  well  for  the  American  girl  to 
form  alliances  with  the  influential  families  of  the  old  world  to  which 
I  have  alluded.  To  me  she  appears,  when  thus  united,  as  an  angel  of 
peace.  In  whichever  land  across  the  big  pond  she  condescends  to  make 
her  home,  she  will  at  all  times  use  her  charming,  noble,  loving  influence 
for  peace  between  her  adopted  land  across  the  sea  and  her  great,  pow 
erful,  free  land  of  her  birth.' 

"Mr.  H continued :  'Our  American  friends :  If  I  should  take 

the  time  necessary  to  express  myself  in  regard  to  the  high,  noble  and 
influential  position  the  American  girl-woman  holds  in  the  United  States 
in  comparison  with  those  of  other  lands,  I  would  have  to  remain  at  least 
a  day  longer  than  I  intended.' 

"Then,  pointing  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  he  concluded :  'Your  beau 
tiful  flag  has  the  envious  distinction  of  being  moved  by  the  frigid  blasts 
of  the  North  Pole,  planted  there  by  the  daring  spirit  of  American  ad 
venture.  Your  flag  is  truly  the  symbol  of  earth's  most  intrepid  courage 
and  bravery.'  (Applause.) 

"Mr.  S ,  of  Boston,  said: 

"  'Friends  from  across  the  Briny  Pond :  This  Anglo-Saxon- American 
ball  will  be  recalled  with  great  pleasure  long  years  after  the  strains  of 
the  waltz  and  quadrille  have  ceased  to  vibrate  the  air  and  put  us  to 
graceful  motion. 

"  'The  "Order  of  Dances,"  displaying  the  coats-of-arms  of  our  respect 
ive  countries,  will  be  preserved  as  mementoes  of  this  highly  pleasurable 
occasion. 

"  'It  is  true,  as  our  friend  H said,  English  lords  and  also  princes 

and  the  nobility  of  other  lands  have  captured  some  of  our  American 


Introduction  13 

girls:  But  we  can  say  the  best  are  none  too  good  for  onr  girls.  The 
friendship  of  nations  will  not  be  hurt  thereby. 

"  'The  stateliness  and  beauty  also  of  the  girls  of  Great  Britain  is  known 
the  world  over.  May  we  hope,  in  peace  and  war,  that  the  English- 
speaking  nations  will,  as  they  always  have  done,  stand  for  the  highest 
ideals  of  mankind.  I  propose  three  cheers  for  all  English-speaking  na 
tions  !' 

"After  the  cheering  subsided,  Mr.  M ,  of  England,  said: 

"  'American  Friends,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  Our  friend  H has 

already  thanked  you  for  this  very  enjoyable  feast  and  ball,  which  you 
have  so  sumptuously  arranged  in  our  honor.  I  only  wish  to  add  that  we 
hope  to  see  each  and  all  of  you  over  in  London  at  some  not  too  far  dis 
tant  time,  on  which  occasion,  we  can  assure  you  that  our  attention  will 
bear  out  the  truth  of  the  sentiment  that  we  have  heard  while  here, 
namely:  that  we  are  trans-atlantic  cousins!' 

"Mr.  M ,  continuing,  said  that  his  friend  R had  learned  some 

new  American  songs  while  here,  which  he  would  ask  him  to  sing.  It 
would  relieve  him  from  making  an  oration,  which  he  might  expect  to 
be  called  upon  to  contribute. 

"Upon  general  request,  Mr.  R consented  to  sing  the  songs  referred 

to.  He  sang  two  different  songs  in  regard  to  the  American  girl,  Miss 
L ,  of  Boston,  accompanying  him  on  the  piano. 

"The  chorus  of  the  first  song  ran: 

'Her  eyes  may  be  black,  her  eyes  may  be  blue, 
She  is  ever  winsome,  lovely  and  true; 
She's  a  jewel  indeed,  an  exquisite  pearl — 
Our  most  bewitching  American  Girl.' 

"The  chorus  of  the  second  song,  'American  Beauty,  was : 

'American  beauty,  blonde  or  brunette, 
Is  fairest  by  far — our  own  nation's  pet ; 
The  beauty  of  beauties,  our  flower  and  our  pearl, 
Our  fair  land  of  freedom's  American  Girl!' 

"Mr.  R was  a  vocalist  of  no  mean  order,  and  he  was  loudly  ap 
plauded.  Miss  B ,  of  London,  accompanied  at  the  piano ;  and  our 

English  guests  sang  a  new  English  song,  which  had  a  fine  air,  and  was 
rendered  very  agreeably.  The  words  were: 

A  WALKING  'LONG  THE  SHORE 

'I  love  to  walk  along  the  shore 
When  the  winds  and  waters  roar; 
Where  the  seagull  dips  his  ivory  lips — 
I  love  to  walk  the  shore. 


14  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

'I  love  to  walk  along  the  strand 
With  my  sweetheart,  hand  in  hand, 
And  blend  our  song,  as  the  waves  roll  on, 
A-strolling  'long  the  strand. 

'I  love  to  walk  along  the  sea 
With  the  fairest  on  earth  to  me ; 
And  watch  the  sail  spread  fore  the  gale 
A-walking  'long  the  sea.' 

"Mr.  C ,  of  New  York,  said: 

"'It's  no  wonder  you  can  sing  a  seashore  song  so  beautifully;  for 
your  Great  Britain  at  present  and  also  during  our  life  time,  need  dread 
not  anything  that  floats  upon  the  high  seas." 

"The  orchestra's  dance  program  included  the  familiar  two-step, 
'Hands  Across  the  Sea,'  which  was  immensely  enjoyed  by  all. 

"Miss  A ,  of  Chicago,  proposed  that  the  orchestra  play  the  tune 

'America,'  which  is  the  same  as  'God  Save  Our  King,'  and  that  half 
those  present  sing  the  words  of  'America'  and  the  other  half  sing  the 
words  of  'God  Save  Our  King.' 

"The  whole  chorus,  accompanied  by  the  orchestra,  was  tremendously 
effective,  the  words  blending  in  song  in  a  very  unique,  agreeable  manner. 

"The  new  national  song,  'Our  Nation  Grand,'  was  sung  by  all  present ; 
also  a  march  of  the  same  song  was  played  by  the  orchestra. 

"Dancing  continued  until  the  wee  hours  of  the  morning,  when  'Home, 
Sweet  Home,'  by  the  orchestra  announced  that  the  highly  enjoyable 
English-American  ball  was  being  relegated  into  history." 

After  Ingford  had  finished  narrating  his  English-American  ball,  Wil- 
mar  Hildon  said: 

"By  the  way,  our  friend  Wilton  Delhurst,  is  expected  to  arrive  any 
day  from  his  prolonged  trip  in  the  Orient. 

"The  forming  of  Starlight  Clubs  by  young  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
which  is  quite  the  proper  caper  in  our  eastern  states,  had  its  inception 
in  the  brain  of  our  friend  Delhurst.  The  purpose  of  these  clubs,  as  we 
well  know,  is  to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  heavens.  These 
clubs  meet  every  two  months  alternately  at  the  home  of  one  of  the 
members ;  where,  from  a  spacious  lawn,  or  roof  garden,  the  members  are 
introduced  to  the  mysteries  of  the  moon,  planets,  comets,  milky  way, 
stars  and  constellations  by  some  one  who  is  higher  up  in  astronomy 
than  any  of  the  other  members  of  the  club.  An  hour's  star  gazing  is 
usually  followed  by  a  luncheon,  music  and  dancing  also  at  times. 

"Wilton  is  an  enthusiastic  preterist.  While  in  college  I  remember 
he  said,  in  our  studies  of  ancient  history,  that  they  ought  to  build  a 
fence  around  the  Pyramids  so  as  to  protect  them  from  vandalism.  The 
more  ancient  the  history,  the  greater  his  interest." 


Introduction  15 

Jule  Ide  remarked:  "To  the  student  of  ancient  classics  and  ancient 
history,  as  well  as  to  the  theologian  and  devout  Christian,  a  journey  to 
the  Orient,  in  order  to  behold,  by  self-travel  and  sojourn,  the  historical 
sights  and  cities  of  remote  ages,  to  which  cling  their  interesting  history 
of  famous  political  and  religious  wars,  their  heroes  and  their  mythology, 
is  ever  among  the  uppermost  of  longings." 

Rutherford  replied:  "I  don't  see  how  anyone  can  care  much  for 
ancient  history.  What  is  past  is  past." 

Vandervelt  replied:  "They  tell  us  the  future  must  be  guided  by 
the  experiences  of  the  past." 

Hamilton  said:  "There  is  no  one  takes  a  greater  delight  in 
ancient  history  than  does  our  friend  Delhurst.  He  is  a  genuine  preterist 
indeed.  His  readable  articles  and  correspondence  from  Egypt  and 
Greece,  in  one  of  our  most  prominent  magazines,  show  what  a  treat  his 
oriental  voyage  must  be  to  him.  In  his  articles  on  the  Pyramids,  he 
does  not  repeat  the  old  Napoleonic  saying:  'Soldiers!  Forty  centuries 
are  looking  down  upon  you !'  He  describes  old  ancient  cities  and  sites 
in  a  fresh,  original,  up-to-date  style.  His  thorough  mastery  of  Greek 
will  stand  him  in  good  stead  during  his  sojourn  in  Greece." 

At  this  juncture,  to  the  surprise  of  the  coterie,  Wilton  Delhurst  him 
self  walked  up,  and,  'mid  greetings,  took  a  central  chair  as  requested. 

After  complimentary  remarks  had  been  passed  to  and  fro,  one  of  the 
party  said: 

"Delhurst,  we  have  been  recounting  some  of  our  outing  pleasures, 
which  dwindle  out  of  sight  in  comparison  with  a  trip  to  the  Orient  such 
as  you  have  been  enjoying." 

Mansfield  asked:  "Delhurst,  I  suppose  you  will  lecture  again  this 
coming  winter  before  the  Historical  Society?" 

Delhurst  said  he  expected  to  do  so. 

"Did  you  not,"  continued  Mansfield,  "at  one  time  move  that  all  writ 
ers  of  books  in  the  whole  civilized  world,  bearing  the  name  History, 
should  be  required  to  take  an  oath  that  they  would  only  record  the 
truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  because  many  histories  were  mislead 
ing  as  to  actual  facts?" 

Delhurst  replied:  "Yes,  I  made  a  move  in  that  direction  once  upon 
a  time.  But  I  soon  stopped  moving,  from  the  fact  that  the  task  I  had 
in  mind  was  too  herculean." 

Inman  asked:  "Wilton,  what  was  the  most  pleasing  sight  to  your 
eyes,  in  your  oriental  trip?" 

Delhurst  replied:  "Now  I  know  you  expect  me  to  say  something  in 
regard  to  Egyptian,  Circassian  or  Grecian  beauties.  No,  that  would 
not  be  a  true  answer.  One  of  the  most  pleasing  sights  that  greeted  my 
eyes  was  our  star-spangled  banner  as  it  waved  from  the  mast  of  some 
man-of-war  or  merchant  ship  on  the  sea,  or  in  some  bay  or  foreign  port. '  ' 


16  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Wilton,"  asked  one  of  the  coterie,  "did  you  not  bring  an  Egyptian 
mummy  along  to  add  to  your  collection  of  ancient  relics?" 

Delhurst  replied:  "My  collection  only  represents  the  Stone  and 
Copper  Age  of  America.  But  I  did  bring  something  extraordinary 
along,  namely:  I  have  noted  down  a  tradition  narrated  to  me  by  a 
typical  enthusiastic  Grecian  of  Athens.  The  tradition  points  out  that 
America  was  first  discovered  by  the  Greeks.  If  such  a  traditional  nar 
rative  interests  you,  as  it  is  quite  lengthy,  I  will  read  it  to  you  before 
it  is  published." 

All  present  said  they  would  be  pleased  to  hear  him  read  It. 
Delhurst  said:  "I  intended  to  invite  you,  anyhow,  in  a  few  days; 
but  if  it  is  convenient,  I  would  be  pleased  to  have  you  call  at  my  home 
tomorrow  afternoon,  at  five  o'clock,  so  we  can  take  an  early  supper  and 
will  then  have  the  necessary  time  to  read  and  listen  to  the  story,  for  It 
is  of  some  length." 

All  eagerly  accepted  the  invitation,  knowing  that  his  lectures  and 
narratives  were  always  instructive  and  entertaining. 

The  next  day  at  the  appointed  time  they  called  on  their  friend, 
Wilton  Delhurst,  whose  palatial  home  was  situated  in  the  greatest 
metropolis  of  our  nation,  about  a  mile  from  the  grand  tomb  of  one  of 
America's  greatest  soldiers,  which  is  situated  on  a  riverside. 

Upon  entering  his  library, 
_____  o        he  said  :  "I  will  first  introduce 
you  to  my  four  seasons." 

Whereupon  he  moved  aside 
a  large  door,  and  led  us  into 
a  spacious  room  representing 
Spring.  The  walls  from  floor 
up  to  near  the  center  of  the 

WCTe 


DOME  OF  GRANT'S  TOMB  VlSIBLK  IN 

THE  DISTANCE  ally     with     budding     plants, 

shrubs   and  trees   of   various 

kinds.  The  walls  were  completely  covered  with  spring-time  scenery. 
Brooks,  just  uncovered  from  the  winter's  ice,  ran  foaming  onward,  the 
beholder  almost  believing  he  could  hear  their  babbling  sound.  One 
could  not  enter  this  large  room  for  the  first  time  without  exclaiming, 
"This  is  Spring."  All  the  tables  and  chairs  were  of  a  pleasing,  rustic 
design. 

Upon  Delhurst's  moving  aside  the  next  opening,  a  sweet  scent  of 
foliage  and  flowers  seemed  to  permeate  the  air.  This  room  represented 
Summer.  The  walls  here,  also,  from  the  floor  to  near  the  center  of  the 
ceiling,  were  painted  with  fine  representations  of  flowers,  shrubs  and 
trees  of  various  kinds.  On  stepping  into  this  room  one  could  not  help 
involuntarily  saying  "Summer!" 


Introduction  17 

The  next  room  represented  Fall.  The  bright  red  golden-yellow 
leaves  of  the  forest  trees  indicated  that  the  night  frosts  had  passed 
along  the  forest,  kissed  the  leaves  and  made  them  blush. 

Upon  leading  them  into  the  fourth  room  they  all  felt  as  if  they  had 
forgotten  their  overcoats  and  furs.  The  walls,  from  floor  to  center 
of  ceiling,  were  covered  with  Arctic  scenery,  glistening  with  snowy,  icy 
mountains  and  grottoes.  The  furniture  was  the  color  of  glistening  snow. 
The  trees  sparkled  with  snow  and  icicles.  Winter  could  not  be  more 
beautifully  or  realistically  portrayed  than  was  this  room. 

One  of  the  number  said :    "This  is  a  white  room  indeed !" 

The  four  large  rooms  representing  the  seasons  joined  at  a  corner. 
With  the  four  large  corner  sliding  doors  open,  one  could  see  at  a  glance 
Spring,  Summer,  Autumn  and  Winter. 

To  fully  describe  the  rooms  representing  the  seasons  would  be  be 
yond  my  powers.  So  realistic  were  they  that  one  might  easily  imagine 
it  would  not  be  necessary  for  the  owner  to  journey  north  in  summer 
or  south  in  winter  for  climatic  comfort.  It  is  only  necessary  to  say 
that  the  rooms  were  painted  and  decorated  by  artists  of  more  than 
common  skill. 

After  having  feasted  their  eyes  on  the  wonderful  beauty  of  the 
rooms,  Mr.  Delhurst  said:  "Let  us  now  return  to  the  library,  where 
I  will  read  to  you  the  newly  discovered  event  that  came  to  pass  less 
than  a  century  after  Homer's  time.  To  a  real  student  of  ancient 
history  this  is  not  so  wonderfully  long  ago  as  it  may  seem  to  humanity 
in  general." 

On  the  wall  of  his  library  room,  above  the  fireplace,  were  elegant 
mural  paintings  representing  three  different  kinds  of  ships,  as  we  may 
call  them,  namely,  a  Pacific  island  catamaran  of  four  logs  with  one 
sail,  several  oars,  also  a  small  canoe  on  same.  The  next  ship  was  a 
hollow  Viking  ship  with  one  sail  and  many  oars.  The  third  group 
represented  Columbus's  caravels,  the  Santa  Maria,  Pinta  and  Nina. 

Mr.  Delhurst,  on  referring  to  the  mural  paintings,  said: 

"Of  the  crafts  represented  on  this  wall,  three  represent  the  three 
different  kinds  of  crafts  with  which  the  continent  of  the  Americas  was 
discovered. 

"But,  please  bear  in  mind,  since  I  returned  from  the  Orient  I  have 
already  given  an  order  to  a  skillful  artist  to  paint  a  ship  after  my 
drawing  representing  the  great  ship  'Aeolus/  in  which  Four  Hundred 
of  Athens  discovered  America.  That  will  be  next  to  and  following  the 
catamaran  of  the  Pacific  islands.  But  in  regard  to  the  Aeolus,  we  will 
hear  more  when  I  read  to  you  that  traditional  story.  My  Greek  friend 
at  Athens  claimed,  from  the  story  which  he  narrated  to  me,  that  the 
Greeks  had  landed  in  America  over  eighteen  hundred  years  before 
the  Vikings  and  over  two  thousand  years  before  Columbus.  But  in 


18  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

my  opinion  people  from  Asia  and  the  Pacific  islands,  if  not  from 
Europe,  have  landed  singly  and  in  small  numbers  again  and  again  at 
great  intervals  of  time  thousands  of  years  before  any  of  those  Euro 
pean  crafts  mentioned. 

"Let  us  look  at  this  map  of  the  world  hanging  here  against  the  wall ; 
now  let  us  give  particular  attention  to  the  contour  of  North  and  South 
America.  We  see  it  forms  a  long,  wide  barrier  extending  from  the 
North  Pole,  we  may  say,  south,  to  beyond  fifty  degrees  south  latitude. 
North  and  South  America  form  a  barrier  against  which  objects  floating 
on  the  ocean  westward  from  Europe,  would  in  time  have  to  land. 

"Also  objects  in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  floating  eastward,  would  in  time 
have  to  drift  against  the  long  American  barrier.  Objects  in  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  driven  by  storms  of  unusually  long  duration  eastward,  would 
land  against  the  Americas  like  snows  driven  by  the  storm  against  a 
long  fence.  Looking  at  the  map,  as  well,  and  even  more  so,  the  Pacific 
Islanders  in  storms  were  wafted  against  their  will  to  more  distant 
islands;  they  also  would,  during  the  interval  of  many  thousands 
of  years,  be  cast  on  the  larger  island  of  North  and  South  America.  In 
deed,  it  would  seem  wonderful  if,  during  thousands  of  years  of  time, 
both  Pacific  Islanders  and  Europeans  were  not  cast  upon  the  shores  of 
America. 

"But  let  us  rather  look  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  know  that  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  year  the  surface  of  the  Pacific  is  just  as  its 
name  signifies.  Let  us  look  at  the  top  of  the  map  and  begin  with 
Behring  Strait.  It  would  be  considered  wonderful  if  people  living  on 
the  west  side  of  this  narrow  strait  in  Asia  would  not,  during  thousands 
of  years  of  time,  have  passed  over  to  America  in  boats  during  some 
very  favorable  summers,  or  on  foot,  when  the  strait  was  frozen  over, 
as  has  happened  within  the  memory  of  civilized  man. 

"But  let  us  go  some  distance  further  south  to  the  Aleutian  Islands 
and  observe  those  as  stepping  stones  for  small  boats  aided  by  the 
Japan  Ocean  current  on  towards  the  American  continent. 

"Further  south  the  great  ocean  space  between  the  Aleutian  Islands 
and  New  Zealand,  as  the  map  shows,  is  dotted  with  islands  of  various 
sizes,  most  of  which  are  well  wooded,  fertile  and  fit  for  the  abode  of 
man.  It  is  known  that  in  prehistoric  times  the  native  islanders  sailed 
and  rowed  from  one  island  to  another  in  canoes,  and  on  their  more 
storm-worthy  catamarans,  constructed  of  logs,  of  which  the  first  craft 
is  a  true  picture.  These  raft  boats  are  much  more  seaworthy  than  one 
;m  first  thought  might  suppose.  When  our  up-to-date  ships  founder, 
they  throw  such  catamaran-like  rafts  into  the  sea  to  save  life.  It  is 
well  known  that  wars  between  the  islanders  at  times  forced  some  of  the 
islanders  to  row  or  sail  to  some  other  more  remote  island  in  order  to 
save  their  lives  from  the  attacking  parties.  It  is  not  difficult  to  realize 


Introduction  19 

that  the  Pacific  islanders  became  daring  sea  rovers.  The  spirit  of  ad 
venture  is  an  inherent  trait  of  the  human  race.  I  only  mean  that  they 
would  take  risks  in  sailing  or  rowing  from  one  island  to  another  distant 
island.  On  their  long  voyages  they  would  naturally  take  a  quantity  of 
food  along. 

"A  large  number  of  rowboats  and  catamarans  must  often  have  been 
sailing  from  island  to  island  in  times  of  long  duration  of  pleasant 
weather. 

"But  It  IB  well  known  at  the  same  time  that,  without  warning, 
strong  sweeping  storms  come  up  against  which  such  crafts  as  canofes 
and  catamarans  cannot  contend.  Under  such  conditions  which,  during 
thousands  of  years  of  time  must  have  often  occurred,  it  would  be  won 
derful  if  some  islanders  had  not  been  driven  by  the  storms  against  the 
long  barrier  formed  by  North  and  South  America,  making  them  unwill 
ing  discoverers  of  America  by  the  sheer  force  of  the  reigning  elements, 
It  is  my  opinion,  as  it  is,  no  doubt,  of  many  others,  that  the  Asiatic, 
Japanese  and  Pacific  Island  people  set  foot  upon  the  American  conti 
nent  thousands  of  years  perhaps  before  America  became  known  to  the 
Europeans.  The  American  Indian  race  seems  much  more  closely  allied 
to  Pacific  and  Japan  Islanders  than  to  Europeans.  It  may  be  a  race 
of  its  own ;  but  that  does  not  interfere  with  the  opinion  that  the  Pacific 
Islanders  were  at  long  intervals  of  time  driven  on  the  coast  of  America. 

"Such  forced  landings  could  not  make  the  existence  of  America 
known  at  large.  They  were  quite  private  affairs.  All  their  wits  and 
strength  were  required  for  their  immediate  personal  protection  and 
wants.  It  is  not  difficult  to  believe  that  by  far  the  majority  of  such  who 
at  great  intervals  of  time  were  driven  over  the  sea  to  the  far  coast  of 
America  were  men.  But  women  too  in  their  tribal  sails  must,  at  still 
greater  intervals  of  time,  also  have  landed. 

"If  the  American  Indian  race  is  strictly  indigenous,  then  such 
castaway  islanders  would  in  many  cases  have  fused  with  the  Indians 
and  their  distinguishing  features  become  lost  in  the  overwhelming 
shuffle  or  majority,  so  to  speak. 

"All  such  landings  occurred  at  a  time  when  the  horizon  of  the 
human  race  was  very  limited.  They  knew  they  were  forced  over  the 
waters  far  away  from  home  and  could  not  get  back.  That  was  all. 

"Also  the  Viking  landings  in  America  was  of  no  practical  benefit  to 
the  world;  unless  somehow  Columbus  had  received  inklings  of  their 
adventure.  The  Pacific  Islanders  and,  later,  the  Vikings,  upon  their 
landings  on  the  Western  Continent,  lived  in  an  age  when  writing  and 
the  printing  press  were  still  unknown,  and  the  greater  part  of  humanity 
Btlll  lived  in  the  Stone  and  Bronze  Ages." 

Delhurst  continued:  "Even  if  I  or  my  Grecian  friend  Zenothemis 
should  convince  you,  by  the  tradition  which  I  am  to  read  to  you,  that 


20  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Greeks  landed  in  America  about  nine  hundred  years  B.  C.,  still  the 
real,  practical  discoverer  of  America,  we  must  all  admit,  was  Christo 
pher  Columbus. 

"And  let  me  add,  not  one  iota  of  his  fame  shall  my  story  take  away 
on  this,  or  any  future  day. 

"Now,  my  friends,"  said  Delhurst,  "let  us  go  into  the  Autumn  room 
and  take  supper." 


SOME  OF  THE   PRINCIPAL,  CHARACTERS  OF  THE 
NARRATIVE : 

ZENOTHEMIS  :  The  typical,  enthusiastic  Athenian,  narrator  of  the  story 
of  "Athonia"  to  Wilton  Delhurst,  an  American  newspaper  cor 
respondent. 

ITHOBAL:  A  Phoenican  sea  captain  and  merchant,  who  inspired  the 
Athenians  with  greater  commercialism. 

PHILOSTENES  :     Holder  of  farewell  address  at  ship's  departure. 
ARTEUS:    Captain;  HILICARUS,  mate  of  the  ship  "Aeolus." 

SCRIBORITES:  Day  scribe;  MILJTOS,  reserve  scribe;  ANAXOGEROUS, 
night  scribe. 

ORTHOCLES  and  GRAPHITUS  :    The  ship's  artists. 

Ship's  Military: 

MARSTENES,  first  commander;  BALORDIUS,  second,— and  ROSANIA, 
in  command  of  maidens. 

Committee  of  Rules  and  Order: 

DlAGORAX,    SOPHON,    MEANDER   and    PlNDARUS. 

Master  of  Games: 
GRACIO. 

Ship's  Magician,  Seer  and  Diviner: 
POLYBUS. 

Committee  of  Commerce: 
EMPOROSODES,  KERDOSOCLES,  and  EMPORIACLES. 

Landing  Committee: 

STRABO,  GREETUS,  TERRAFIRMA,  FATTALUS  and  THEOGNIS  as  inter 
preter  of  gesture  and  other  languages. 

Some  of  the  Maiden's  Names: 

AGATHIA,  CORRINA,  IRISONIA,  ORIENTES,  LIDIO,   CASSANDRA, 

QUEENORIA,  ISYLATA,  UNDINE,  L.EONE,  CLOIA, 
BEOTHEO,  ARMITHENE,  NATHOLIA,  CLELESTIA,  SOPRANES,  CYNTHIA. 


Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 


CHAPTER  I 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  STORY 

After  they  had  taken  supper  in  the  beautiful  Autumn  room,  they 
returned  to  the  adjoining  library  where,  upon  the  offering  of  cigars, 
Mr.  Delhurst  announced:  "Now,  boys,  from  these  volumes  I  now  take 
this  typewritten  manuscript  containing  my  recently  discovered  Grecian 
story  which  you  asked  me  to  read  to  you.  Please  be  comfortably  seated. 
As  I  have  already  warned  you,  it  may  require  over  two  hours'  time  to 
give  a  comprehensive  epitome  of  this  story.  I  intend  only  to  give  an 
epitome,  and  not  the  full  story,  but  will  conform  myself  to  your  wishes 
in  regard  to  this." 

" Wilton,"  said  Mr.  Rutherford,  "please  do  not  rehearse  the  skele 
ton  of  the  story  only,  for  I  believe  we  all  would  like  to  hear  you  read 
that  Grecian  legend  from  start  to  finish." 

"Yes,"  was  the  simultaneous  request,  "please  let  us  hear  it  in  full, 
from  beginning  to  end." 

"Let  me  exhort  you,"  said  Delhurst,  "before  I  divulge — if  that 
phrase  is  allowable — this  newly  discovered  event  of  ancient  times  to 
you,  before  it  sails  upon  the  wings  of  publicity,  to  constitute  yourselves 
as  comfortably  and  unrestrainedly  as  possible,  as  we  cannot  expect  to 
sit  as  quietly  as  if  we  were  listening  to  some  lecturer.  Therefore,  walk 
and  move  about  at  your  pleasure;  it  will  not  be  disturbing  to  me  in 
the  least." 

"Never  mind,  Wilton,"  said  Mr.  Mansfield,  eyeing  the  curling  smoke 
of  his  cigar,  "we'll  look  for  our  comfort  all  right.  We've  been  here 
before.  We're  only  too  anxious  to  have  you  read  that  great  event  of 
the  misty  past  to  us,  regardless  of  the  time  required.  It  is  still  very 
early  in  the  evening ;  the  sun  is  hardly  set."  *  *•** 

"I  must  first,"  said  Delhurst,  "relate  how  I  happened  to  discover  or 
come  into  possession  of  this  Greek  legend  which  I  am  about  to  read 
to  you. 

"Now  to  begin — before  the  beginning — .  During  my  ten  days'  sojourn 
in  Athens  I  stayed  at  one  of  the  principal  hotels  at  the  Square  of  the 
Constitution.  Mr.  Hamilton  and  Mansfield  undoubtedly  remember  in 
What  part  of  Athens  that  Is,  having  visited  Athens  two  years  ago." 

23 


24  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Yes,'r  said  Mr.  Hamilton,  "it's  one  of  the  finest  hostelries  and  is 
situated  in  close  proximity  to  the  royal  palace.  During  my  stay  in 
Athens  I  stopped  at  a  hotel  situated  on  Rue  d'Hermes." 

"Now  to  proceed,"  continued  Delhurst,  "during  my  sojourn  In 
Athens,  I  met,  and  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Sir  Armothoge,  of  Lon 
don,  England,  at  a  principal  cafe.  Mr.  Armothoge  was  awaiting  an  en 
thusiastic  American  archeologist.  The  American  gentleman  arrived  at 

the  appointed  time,  and,  to  my  pleasure,  I  found  it  was  Mr.  R ,  to 

whom  I  had  previously  had  the  honor  of  an  introduction  upon  one  of 
my  several  visits  to  the  American  Archeological  School.  A  young  gen 
tleman,  a  close  relation  to  the  king  of  Greece,  happened  to  be  in  the 

cafe  at  the  time  and  engaged  Mr.  R in  conversation  in  regard  to 

some  new  archeological  discoveries,  said  to  have  been  unearthed  in  the 
vicinity  of  'Temple  de  Jupiter  Olympien.' 

"The  royal  relative  seemed  quite  deeply  interested  in  the  newly- 
claimed  discoveries  and  asked  Mr.  R to  accompany  him  in  his  auto 

for  the  purpose  of  securing  further  information  in  regard  to  the  truth 
fulness  of  the  reported  discoveries. 

"Sir  Armothoge  and  myself,  as  naturally  as  water  running  down 
hill,  immediately  turned  our  topic  of  conversation  on  the  past  greatness 
of  Athenian  and  Grecian  History  in  general.  Sir  Armothoge  was  a 
fluent  Greek  scholar,  and  during  his  two  weeks'  sojourn  had  formed 
the  acquaintanceship  of  a  number  of  prominent  Athenians.  I  told  Sir 
Armothoge  that  I  would  like  to  form  the  acquaintance  of  a  genuine 
unadulterated,  typical  Grecian,  some  scholarly  gentleman,  who  could  ac 
company  me  in  my  drives  and  walks,  and  with  whom  I  could  converse 
in  the  Greek  language  in  regard  to  ancient  Greek  art,  Greek  architecture 
and  ancient  Greek  history. 

"Sir  Armothoge  said  that  he  had  the  honor  of  an  introduction  to  a 
genuine,  typical  Athenian  gentleman,  one  who  seemed  highly  delighted 
when  the  history  of  ancient  Greece  was  on  the  tapis ;  a  gentleman  who 
was  an  enthusiast  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  ancient  glory  of  Hellas. 
He  said  that  the  name  of  his  Hellenic  acquaintance  was  Zenothemis, 
a  gentleman  who  claimed  to  be  a  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the 
victors  in  the  ancient  Olympian  games,  whose  triumph  had  been  lauded 
in  song  and  story  from  generation  to  generation,  and  whose  descendants 
held  prominent  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  Attica  for  generations. 

"I  assured  Sir  Armothoge  that  I  would  be  exceedingly  pleased  to 
be  honored  by  an  introduction  to  his  Athenian  friend.  Sir  Armothoge, 
who  had  fully  arranged  for  his  departure  for  London,  said  that  there 
was  perhaps  still  a  chance  for  an  introduction  if  I  would  accompany 
him  that  evening  to  the  Athenian  Club  at  the  Place  de  la  Banque,  to 
which  he  was  granted  the  right  of  admittance  through  the  good  offices 
of  the  resident  British  Minister.  'I  believe,'  said  Sir  Armothoge,  'that 


Introduction  to  the  Story  25 

Mr.  Zenothemis  is  a  quite  regular  attendant  at  the  club,  and  we  shall 
undoubtedly  be  able  to  meet  him  there  at  about  7  o'clock.' 

"It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  state  that  I  immediately  accepted  hia 
good  offices.  In  the  evening,  upon  arriving  at  the  club,  we  found  quite 
a  number  of  members  present,  besides  a  number  of  prominent  French, 
English  and  German  vistors.  In  less  time  than  it  would  take  me  to 
relate,  I  was,  through  the  guidance  of  Sir  Armothoge,  standing  before 
Zenothemis,  who  was  sitting  towards  a  corner  somewhat  away  from 
the  others  present,  reading  an  article  in  a  magazine  referring  to  the 
revival  of  the  Olympian  games. 

"The  short  formalities  of  an  introduction  over,  I  was,  with  polished 
Grecian  politeness,  asked  to  be  seated  and  make  myself  entirely  at 
home.  Mr.  Armothoge  introduced  me  as  being  an  American  newspaper 
correspondent  who  was  a  close  student  of  the  history  of  ancient  Greece, 
an  American  who  took  a  scholarly  delight  in  the  study  of  archeology, 
anthropology  and  all  things  pertaining  to  the  realms  of  the  uncertain, 
misty,  remote  past. 

"Shortly  after  the  introduction,  Sir  Armothoge  informed  Mr.  Zeno 
themis  of  his  intended  departure  on  next  morning's  early  train,  remark 
ing  that  it  was  incumbent  upon  him  to  devote  the  few  remaining  hours 
to  the  bidding  adieu  to  several  of  his  other  Athenian  acquaintances, 
whose  company  also  had  greatly  added  to  the  agreeableness  and  in- 
structiveness  of  his  sojourn  while  in  Athens.  Upon  bidding  farewell, 
he  presented  his  card  containing  his  London  address  with  the  invitation 
to  call  upon  him  whenever  we  should  happen  to  visit  the  metropolis  of 
the  world. 

"After  bidding  Armothoge  farewell,  Mr.  Zenothemis  said  that  he 
was  highly  pleased  to  form  the  acquaintance  of  a  genuine  American 
citizen.  He  had  frequently  had  the  pleasure  of  an  introduction  to 
noted  English,  German  and  French  gentlemen,  but  not  to  an  American. 
'I  am  certainly  assured,'  said  Mr.  Zenothemis,  'of  your  deep  interest  in 
the  history  of  Greece  by  the  fluency  with  which  you  master  the  classic 
Greek  language.' 

"Mr.  Zenothemis  was  not  only  well  versed  in  classic  Greek  but  also 
in  Latin,  but  not  in  the  English  language.  Our  conversation  was,  there 
fore,  wholly  in  classic  Greek.  We  both  entered  upon  the  subject  of 
ancient  history  of  Hellas  with  earnest  enthusiasm  and  delight." 

"I  can  Imagine,"  interrupted  Mr.  Joyce,  "that  you  then  did  not  re 
gret  the  many  hours  you  devoted  to  Greek  and  Latin  lore  by  the 
midnight  lamp." 

Delhurst  replied :  "Certainly  not ;  without  that  acquirement  I  would 
not  have  discovered  the  ancient  narrative. 

"Our  subjects  of  conversation  mainly  touched  upon  the  great  men 
of  ancient  Hellas,  including  its  poets,  dramatists,  warriors,  historians, 


26  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

philosophers  and  orators  such  as  Homer,  Lycurgus,  Pindar,  Aeschylus, 
Sophocles,  Leonidas,  Herodotus,  Thucydides,  Demosthenes,  Solon,  Socra 
tes,  Pericles,  Plato,  Euclid,  and  Pythagoras.  Our  remarks  were  pro 
fusely  interspersed  with  quotations  culled  from  noted  Grecian  orations 
and  dissertations,  including  Plato's  Republic,  Homer's  Iliad  and 
Odyssey,  Pindar's  lyric  poem  and  philosophical  sayings  of  Aristotle. 

"I  asked  Mr.  Zenothemis  which  one  of  the  great  minds  of  ancient 
Greece  he  held  as  the  most  profound  and  also  the  most  useful  to  the 
world.  He  replied  that  it  was  quite  difficult  to  answer  which  particular 
one  seemed  to  loom  above  all  the  others,  as  in  all  the  various  fields  of 
usefulness  there  were  several  stars  of  the  first  magnitude.  'The  par 
ticular  one  among  the  galaxy  of  stars  that  I  have  in  my  mind's  eye, 
just  at  this  moment,  is,  I  should  say,  Plato.  I  have  always  held  Plato 
in  high  reverence.  The  essence  of  Plato's  philosophy  is,  that  wisdom 
and  righteousness  are  closely  related,  as  also  are  folly  and  crime.  A 
philosophy  based  upon  such  tenets  cannot  but  have  been  of  inestimable 
value  towards  furthering  the  progress  and  true  salvation  of  the  human 
family.  But  I  do  not  wish  to  Bay  that  out  of  the  galaxy  of  stars,  the 
same  particular  star  shines  out  the  brightest  at  all  times.  That  star 
which  my  mind's  eye  happens  to  pay  particular  attention  to  and  gazes 
on  the  longest,  so  to  speak,  seems  the  brightest  for  the  time. 

"  'As  to  undisputed  usefulness,  I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  the 
great  mathematicians — Thales,  Pythagoras  and  Euclid.  It  must  be 
admitted  that  the  results  of  their  researches  and  discoveries  for  science 
do  not  conflict  as  often  as  the  various  opposing  theories  of  renowned 
philosophers.  Indeed,  it  is  claimed  by  some  that  the  advancement  of 
the  human  race  is  due  more  to  universally  accepted  and  irrefutable  facts 
in  mathematics  than  to  all  the  abstract  theories  of  philosophy  that  the 
world  has  ever  known.' 

"We  both  agreed  that,  among  ancient  historians,  Thucydides  was  be 
yond  doubt  the  most  painstaking  and  reliable.  Mr.  Zenothemis  remarked 
that  he  had  lately  read  an  article  in  a  French  magazine  bearing  the 
title,  'The  present  status  of  Greek  history  and  Greek  classics  in  the 
civilized  countries  of  the  world,'  in  which  it  was  claimed  that  Germany, 
England  and  France  were  the  only  countries  in  which  these  studies  were 
zealously  fostered.  In  all  the  other  countries,  including  the  United 
States  of  America,  the  writer  claimed  the  interest  formerly  shown  to 
wards  Greek  history  and  the  study  of  the  Greek  language  was  per 
ceptibly  on  the  wane. 

"I  ventured  to  assert  that  that  article  must  have  been  penned  by 
one  who  was  but  poorly  informed  in  regard  to  the  interest  taken  by 
Americans  in  the  studies  of  ancient  Greece  and  its  literature.  The 
real  facts,  I  assured  him,  were  just  to  the  contrary,  there  being  hardly 
any  institution  of  learning  in  the  United  States  today,  aspiring  to  the 


Introduction  to  the  Story  27 

name  of  college  or  university,  which  did  not  include  classic  Greek  in  its 
curriculum.  Mr.  Zenothemis  thought  that  was  very  gratifying  news  to 
every  true  Grecian  and  was  far  beyond  what  one  should  have  expected 
in  a  new  country  like  the  United  States,  where,  as  the  press  of  Europe 
make  us  believe,  the  people  are  so  deeply  engrossed  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
almighty  dollar,  thus  allowing  no  time  or  attention  towards  the  growth 
of  culture  and  aesthetics. 

"I  further  informed  my  Greek  friend  that  thousands  of  pupils  who 
received  their  education  in  the  public  high  schools,  were  quite  familiar 
with  the  most  prominent  events  of  ancient  Greece  and  also  with  its 
literature,  such  as  the  story  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  Homer's  Iliad  and 
Odyssey,  also  that  one  of  the  many  brave  warriors  of  his  native  Greece 
had  been  lauded  in  felicitous  verse,  which  is  declaimed  by  enthusiastic 
youths  in  almost  every  schoolhouse  throughout  our  free  land. 

"Mr.  Zenothemis  asked  me  whether  many  of  the  youths  in  America 
could  give  the  names  of  the  so-called  seven  wise  men  of  Greece.  I 
thought  undoubtedly  thousands  had  read  the  names  in  their  studies,  but 
to  having  them  memorized  could  hardly  be  expected.  I,  myself,  could 
recall  only  six;  the  seventh,  which  I  could  not  recall  to  memory  upon 
the  spur  of  the  moment,  being  Cleobulus  of  Rhodes,  being  the  wise  man 
whom  I  was  not  wise  enough  to  remember. 

"Mr.  Zenothemis  said,  while  referring  to  the  interest  Americans  take 
in  Greek  history,  'May  I  ask  you  a  question?'  (Mr. Zenothemis  was  the 
picture  of  deep  earnestness,  while  asking  this  question.) 

"I  answered,  'Why  certainly,  I  would  be  pleased  to  answer  to  the 
extent  of  my  information,  any  and  all  questions  in  regard  to  America.' 
'Allow  me,'  said  my  friend  Zenothemis,  'to  ask:  do  the  youths  of 
America,  or  the  parents  of  the  youths  of  America,  know  to  which  na 
tion  the  first  discoverers  of  America  belong?' 

"  'I  should  say,'  I  replied,  'they  belong  to  Spain.  Columbus,  al 
though  an  Italian,  was  in  the  service  of  Spain,  and  the  crews  of  the 
ships  are  supposed  to  have  been  Spaniards.  The  claim  that  Leif,  a 
native  of  Denmark  or  Iceland,  landed  in  America  about  five  hundred 
years  before  Columbus  is  steadily  gaining  ground.  If  you  would  ask 
any  American,'  I  said,  'who  discovered  America,  the  answer  will  invari 
ably  be  Columbus.' 

"  'Now,'  said  my  Greek  friend,  'I  suppose  you  will  be  surprised  when 
I  claim  that  America  was  discovered  by  Greece,  that  is,  by  natives  of 
Greece,  or,  to  be  more  specific,  by  Athenians.  Yes,  and  what  is  more, 
the  event  came  to  pass  thousands  of  years  prior  to  the  time  of  the  dis 
covery  of  America  by  Columbus.' 

"  'Surprised,'  said  I,  'I  should  say  I  am  more  than  surprised ;  I  am 
amazed,  if  I  understand  you  aright !' 

"  'Yes,  Mr.  Delhurst,'  said  my  friend,  'the  facts  are  just  as  I  claim, 


28  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  you  understand  me  perfectly  aright.  If,  before  leaving  Athens,  you 
can  devote  two  days  for  the  purpose,  I  should  be  highly  pleased  to 
narrate  an  ancient  Grecian  legend,  treating  of  the  event,  which  would 
beyond  all  doubt  convince  you  of  the  fact  that  America  was  dis 
covered  by  Greeks,  or  to  particularize,  by  Athenians.  But  this 
evening  I  would  not  like  to  go  into  the  narrative,  as  the  time  at 
this  late  hour  is  far  too  limited  for  giving  even  an  outline  of  the 
legend." 

"I  answered  Mr.  Zenothemis  that  I  would  be  highly  elated  if  I  could 
secure  that  legend  and  would  be  greatly  honored  if  I  could  enjoy  his 
company  during  the  greater  part  of  the  remaining  three  days  of  my  so 
journ  in  Athens. 

"My  Greek  friend  said  that  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to  him  if  he  could 
in  any  way  for  the  remaining  three  days,  in  some  degree,  add  to  the 
instructiveness  and  agreeableness  of  my  sojourn  in  Athens.  He  said 
that  I  could  not  have  an  idea  of  how  the  Greeks  admired  our  great 
American  republic,  since  its  victorious  war  of  '98 ;  he  said,  'Your  nation 
looms  up  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  in  all  its  high-minded  majesty; 
nobler  and  grander  than  ever  before.  It  is  certainly  not  unknown  to 
you,'  he  said,  'that  we  Greeks  have  from  generation  to  generation  en 
tertained  hope  against  hope  that  our  grand  idea  of  a  united  progressive 
Greek  republic  should  some  day  become  a  reality.  Although  a  true 
Greek  never  wholly  loses  this  hope,  still,  surrounded  as  we  are  by 
mighty  powers,  our  grand  idea  can  not  come  to  pass  unless  some  un 
foreseen  European  complications  turn  the  course  of  events  favorably 
towards  the  consummation  devoutly  wished  for.'  'When  I  see  your 
beautiful  star  spangled  banner,'  continued  my  friend,  'down  in  the  har 
bor  at  the  Piraeus,  waving  majestically  on  the  mast-head  of  your  war 
ships  or  merchant  marine,  a  mingled  feeling  of  envy  and  admiration 
fills  my  breast  for  the  free  citizens  whose  noble  emblem  it  is.  During 
the  war  of  '98,'  he  said,  'I  read  the  daily  war  reports  with  intense  in 
terest,  all  along  on  land  and  sea,  so  wonderful  were  your  victories,  that 
the  most  superficial  readers  could  not  but  form  the  belief  that  your 
side  must  be  favored  by  the  unseen  power  of  the  God  of  War. 

"  'In  that  instance,  right  and  might  seemed  to  walk  hand  in  hand  for 
a  noble  purpose.  Since  that  war,  which  was  proclaimed  for  the  welfare 
of  the  inhabitants  of  a  neighboring  island,  your  beautiful  flag  waves  out 
like  a  symbol  of  hope  to  the  oppressed  of  all  lands.  Only  a  few  days 
ago,  upon  beholding  it  proudly  waving  from  the  mast-head  of  an  Ameri 
can  ship,  lying  in  the  harbor  of  Piraeus,  I  unconsciously  bestrode  the 
winged  Pegasus  and  was  inspired  to  pen  this  poem.' 

"Whereupon  Mr.  Zenothemis  opened  his  pocket  diary,  pointing  out 
the  pages  that  contained  the  poem.  It  consisted  of  nineteen  stanzas, 


Introduction  to  the  Story  29 

treating  of  the  grand  American  republic.     I  translated  three  of  the 
stanzas  from  Greek  into  English,  as  follows : 

The  world  oppressed,  its  hope  doth  rest 

In  that  Star  Spangled  Banner; 
It  speaks  of  light,  it  speaks  of  right 

To  hamlet  and  to  manor. 

Never  before,  on  foreign  shore 

That  flag  was  understood 
As  'tis  today, — showing  the  way 

Towards  loving  brotherhood. 

The  mission  grand,  of  its  free  land 

Is  as  a  model  nation 
For  human  good,  towards  brotherhood 

To  fill  its  destined  station. 

"The  remaining  stanzas  contained  strong  language  against  the  na 
tion  which  our  country  warred  against  in  '98.  I  informed  Mr.  Zenothe- 
mis  that  I  would  be  pleased  to  translate  the  verse  into  English  and  show 
my  friends  at  home,  who  no  doubt  would  be  pleased  to  read  how  much 
interest  the  Greek  people  take  in  the  welfare  of  America. 

"  'What  America  is  today,'  Mr.  Zenothemis  said,  'is  what  the 
Greeks  have  hoped  for  centuries  Hellas  should  be — a  model  nation  for 
others  to  copy — the  nation  of  nations.  But  the  Fates  have  plainly 
decreed  otherwise.' 

"I  said  that  a  noted  scholar  claimed  that  Americans  were  a  great 
deal  like  the  Greeks,  but  far  more  practical.  'Whatever,'  said  my 
friend,  'the  present  status  of  Greece  may  be,  it  is  always  agreeable  to 
know  that  its  past  greatness  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  learned  of 
your  model  nation,  far  o'er  the  seas.' 

"I  replied,  that  as  our  nation  progresses  in  material  and  moral 
greatness,  the  greater  will  be  the  interest  taken  in  the  study  of  ancient 
Greek  literature  and  art  I  informed  him  that  for  many  years,  colleges 
and  universities  had  felt  it  incumbent  upon  themselves  to  give,  at  least 
once  a  year,  a  public  performance  of  some  noted  drama  selected  from 
those  of  the  ancient  classic  Greek  dramatists ;  that  I  have  attended  a 
performance  of  Sophocles'  OEdipus  Tyrannus;  and  that  such  per 
formances  are  at  all  times  witnessed  by  large  appreciative  audi 
ences.  'It  is  certain.'  I  said,  'that  the  literature  of  ancient  Greece  will 
remain  the  delight  of  scholars  and  the  food  of  philosophers  and  poets 
for  ages  to  come.' 

"He  also  seemed  elated  on  my  informing  him  of  the  large  number 
of  College  Greek  letter  societies,  such  as  Phi  Delta  Theta,  Alpha  Phi 
Delta  Gamma,  Delta  Upsilon,  Phi  Kappa  Psi,  Sigma  Chi,  Phi  Beta 
Kappa,  Delta  Kappa,  Zeta  Alpha  and  many  others  of  equal  note,  and 


30  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

that  most  all  of  the  presidents  of  the  United  States  of  America  were 
members  of  such  Greek  letter  fraternities. 

"At  this  stage  of  our  conversation,  the  club  room  clock  struck  the 
late  hour  of  eleven.  During  the  evening,  with  a  large  number  of  per 
sons  present,  its  hourly  notices  of  the  flight  of  time  remained  unheard, 
but  at  that  advanced  hour,  with  only  a  few  remaining  members  present, 
its  tones  seemed  to  assert  themselves,  earnestly  reminding  one  of  the 
necessary  rest  for  carrying  out  the  visits  to  places  of  historic  interest 
that  were  planned  for  the  morrow.  I,  of  course,  intended  to  wend  my 
way  back  to  the  hotel,  but  Mr.  Zenothemis  unyieldingly  insisted  upon  my 
accompanying  him  to  stay  at  his  bachelor  home. 

"It  was  a  clear,  typical  Athenian  night,  and  after  a  leisurely  walk 
of  a  few  squares,  we  arrived  at  the  home  of  my  friend.  It  was  one 
of  the  neatest  dwellings  in  its  vicinity ;  of  which  Mr.  Zenothemis  re 
tained  for  himself  on  the  second  floor,  two  bedrooms,  wardrobe  closets, 
bathroom,  and  one  large  elegantly  furnished  room.  The  greater  part  of 
the  building  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Zenothemis'  brother-in-law  and  fam 
ily.  Mr.  Zenothemis,  according  to  his  needs,  was  financially  quite 
Independent.  He  was  at  that  stage  in  life  when  the  hair  at  the  temples 
of  the  average  man  begins  to  display  streaks  of  gray.  Like  most  inde 
pendent  bachelors,  he  seemed  fastened  down  to  set  ideas  as  to  how  some 
things  ought  to  be  arranged,  so  as  to  merit  the  adjective  ideal.  Drift- 
Ing  towards  the  realm  of  bachelorhood  myself,  I  felt  amused  to  notice 
such  peculiarities  in  another. 

"My  friend  said  that  almost  half  of  our  lives  were  spent  in  our 
sleeping  rooms,  therefore  they  should  be  large  and  well  arranged  and 
situated.  One  of  his  rooms  was  what  he  called  an  ideal  bedroom.  This 
he  consigned  to  me.  He  claimed  its  ceiling  was  the  most  beautiful  of 
any  bedroom  or  any  other  room  in  the  world,  which  I  later  found  was 
the  truth,  as  its  color  was  a  deep  far-off  blue,  ornamented  with  golden, 
glittering  stars,  some  of  which  were  larger  than  the  earth ;  all  of  which 
were  restlessly,  incessantly  moving  onward.  It  was  a  richly  furnished 
and  commodious  room.  The  particular  reason,  why,  in  his  opinion,  it 
was  an  ideal  sleeping  room,  was  from  the  fact  of  there  being  a  sky-light 
in  the  ceiling  above  the  bed.  It  consists  of  a  large  plate  of  glass  of 
about  ten  by  eighteen  feet  in  size,  lying  flush  with  the  roof.  The  object 
of  this  flat  plate  of  glass  sky-light  was  not  for  the  transmission  of  light, 
as  for  that  purpose  two  side  windows  were  sufficient.  About  five  years 
ago,  Mr.  Zenothemis  had  had  that  sky-light  set  in  so  that  he  could,  in 
the  stilly  hours  of  the  night,  behold  the  wondrous  beauty  of  the  blue 
gold  bejeweled  heaven  above.  He  said  that  one  would  be  surprised  at 
what  a  vast  expanse  of  the  heavens  such  a  sky-light  opened  to  the 
view. 

"  'You  see,'  he  said,  'some  nights  I  lie  with  my  head  to  the  north, 


Introduction  to  the  Story  31 

and  on  others,  to  the  south;  thus  obtaining  the  fullest  scope  that  the 
opening  presents.' 

"He  claimed  that  he  had  within  the  last  few  years,  without  the 
slightest  effort,  formed  the  acquaintance  of  numerous  stars,  planets,  and 
satellites;  and  could  tell  in  which  months  the  various  constellations 
move  in  their  Zodiacal  paths  across  his  sky-light  vision.  'One  never 
tires,'  he  said,  'of  beholding  with  wonder  and  admiration,  the  multi 
tudinous  stars  glittering  in  the  blue  vault  above.  But  then  perhaps  we 
Greeks  take  a  greater  interest  in  the  golden  twinklers  than  is  common 
to  the  peoples  of  other  nations;  for  the  reason  that  a  large  number  of 
our  most  prominent  gods  and  heroes  have  been  immortalized  by  being 
metamorphosed  in  the  blue  vault  above  into  planets,  stars  and  con 
stellations,  such  as  Cassandra,  Hercules,  Eros,  Andromeda,  Castor  and 
Pollux,  Orion,  Perseus,  and  others  who  are  thus  reminding  us  Greeks 
of  the  gods  and  heroes  held  sacred  by  our  venerated  ancestors.'  Some 
of  the  starry  names  have  later  been  changed  into  Latin,  Roman,  names, 
as  Jupiter,  Venus,  etc. 

"  I  remarked  that  our  omniscient,  omnipresent  God,  leaves  no  place 
for  the  many  Gods  of  ancient  Greek  mythology;  and  that  the  nations  in 
which  Christianity  prevails,  lead  the  world  in  science,  art,  literature 
and  human  progress. 

"Zenothemis  replied:  'Certainly  we  are  all  Christians  now;  but  we 
will  always  hold  a  deep  reverence  for  the  gods  of  our  forefathers,  and 
let  me  say : 

The  gods  of  Greece,  the  gods  of  Greece, 

Their  whisperings  will  never  cease, 

On  mount,  in  vale,  or  riverside, 

In  forest  dense,  or  flowing  tide; 

In  ocean  waves  that  lave  the  snore; 

In  lightning  cloud  with  thundrous  roar, 

Whose  ominous  threat'ning  sable  sky 

With  fiery  flashes  dims  the  eye ; 

In  trees,  where  each  leaf  is  a  tongue, 

Their  rustling  whispers  are  among; 

In  pebbly  brook  and  cataract  clear 

Their  power  and  voice  is  ever  near. 

The  golden  orb  of  day  they  lead 

With  chariot  bright  and  fleeting  steed, 

In  wind  and  storm  and  tempest  wild, 

In  evening's  breeze  and  zephyrs  mild, 

In  war's  fierce  battle,  sea  or  plain, 

Their  favor  leads  to  victory's  gain. 

And  Love,  O  Love,  sweet  fair,  true  Love — 

They  shower  their  blessings  from  above; 

Their  spirit  speaks  in  many  a  tongue 

Is  never  old,  but  ever  young. 

The  gods  of  Greece,  the  gods  of  Greece — 

Their  sway  and  power  shall  never  cease; 

And  so  it  has  been,  and  so  'twill  be 

For  ages,  throughout  Eternity. 


32  'The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"  'Yes,'  continued  Mr.Zenothemis,'many  of  the  gods  and  heroes  of  our 
ancestors  have  been  immortalized  in  the  blue  vault  above,  by  naming 
planets,  constellations  and  stars  in  their  honor.' 

"  'Allow  me,'  continued  mine  host,  'to  pull  down  the  window  curtains 
and  turn  out  the  light.  There!  Do  not  the  stars  from  this  darkened 
room  seem  to  shine  out  with  a  greater  brilliancy  in  the  clear  blue 
heavens  above,  than  ordinarily?' 

"I  could  but  admit  that  the  stars  appeared  unusually  brilliant;  In 
deed.  I  reminded  mine  host  that  the  exceeding  brilliancy  of  the  stars 
was  perhaps  due  to  the  noted  clearness  of  the  Athenian  atmosphere. 

"  'How  plainly  the  apparent  stationary  North  Star  stands  to  view,' 
said  he.  'Ursa  Major  is  now  descending  towards  the  northwest;  the 
pointers  also  lie  inclined  towards  the  northwest.  The  guardians  of 
the  Pole  are  above  it,  to  the  left.  Capella  is  scintilliating  brilliantly,  as 
also  Castor  and  Pollux,  lowering  there  in  the  northwest.  The  constella 
tion  of  Hercules  is  almost  directly  overhead.' 

"  'Now,'  said  mine  host,  turning  on  the  lamps  again,  'if  you  should 
not  sleep  well,  you  can  survey  the  sky  at  your  leisure;  or  if  you  do  not 
care  to  have  that  large  number  of  stars  winking  at  you,  you  can  easily 
shut  off  the  heavenly  scene  with  that  spring  roller  curtain  under  the 
sky-light.  Trying  to  count  the  stars,  I  believe,  would  be  a  sure  cure  for 
insomnia ;  but  as  there  are  not  millions  in  it,  according  to  your  American 
phraseology,  I  will  not  spend  a  fortune  in  advertising  the  remedy.  The 
stars  move  and  shine  as  they  moved  and  shone  to  the  eyes  of  billions 
of  mankind  who  lived  thousands  of  years  before  us,  including  Newton, 
Galileo,  Kepler,  Herschel,  Copernicus,  Ptolemy,  Thales,  all  of  whom 
beheld  the  same  brilliant  heavenly  scene  with  studious  admiration.  If 
the  stars  would  only  shine  during  one  night  in  a  large  number  of  years, 
we  would  undoubtedly  remain  up  that  whole  night  and  regard  them 
with  awe  and  wonder.' 

"  'In  this  room,'  continued  my  friend,  'in  the  silent  hours  of  the 
night,  lying  upon  one's  pillow,  beholding  the  endless  blue,  strewn  with  its 
brilliant  golden  stars  and  constellations,  with  a  comet  thrown  in  for  a 
change,  one  imagines  the  harmonious  music  of  the  spheres,  as  they 
speed  through  space  in  their  perpetual  returning  cycles.  Gazing  into  the 
stilly  night,  up  into  the  furthermost  blue,  wings  one's  thoughts  for  the 
time  far  from  this  earthly  abode,  and  strengthens  one's  faith  in  the 
wisdom,  power  and  love  of  Him  who  set  the  spheres  revolving  through 
space  in  their  ever  recurring  orderly  paths,  and  it  suggests  to  one  that : 

In  the  silent  chamber — there 
Is  the  sacred  place  of  Prayer. 

"  'I  will  now  retire  to  my  room,'  he  said,  'and  I  wish  you  a  good 
night.' 


Introduction  to  the  Story  33 

"I  immediately  went  to  bed,  and,  facing  the  large  flat  sky-light, 
directly  overhead,  I  could  not  but  behold  the  distant  ceiling  above.  It 
was  not  many  minutes,  however,  before  I  was  fast  asleep  in  the  arms  of 
Morpheus  until  the  rays  of  Phoebus  had  climbed  quite  high  above  the 
Eastern  horizon. 

"Upon  entering  the  sitting  room,  mine  host  asked  me  whether  I  had 
viewed  the  movements  of  the  animals  in  the  heavenly  Zoo,  or  had 
drawn  the  curtain  under  the  sky-light?  I  replied  that  I  had  enjoyed  a 
very  restful  sleep,  excepting  perhaps,  the  first  twenty  minutes  in  which 
it  was  made  strikingly  clear  to  me  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  night ; 
we  are  only  turned  away  from  light.  'That,'  replied  mine  host,  'if  we 
had  the  time,  would  be  a  theme  to  dilate  upon.  You  have  at  least,'  he 
said,  laughingly,  'made  one  great  astronomical  discovery.  So  much  to 
the  credit  of  my  ideal  bed  chamber.' 

"He  insisted  that  I  should  be  his  guest  for  the  balance  of  my  so 
journ  in  Athens,  which  kind  invitation  I  readily  accepted. 

"After  partaking  of  a  dainty,  as  well  as  a  wholesome  breakfast,  our 
plan  for  the  forenoon  included  a  ride  on  horseback  over  the  sacred  way 
to  the  town  of  Eleusis.  My  friend  was  a  well  practiced  equestrian.  In 
our  ride  over  the  sacred  way,  to  Eleusis  and  through  the  olive  groves  in 
the  plain  of  the  Kephisos,  we  halted  at  all  places  of  interest.  The 
glimpses  of  the  Acropolis,  seen  through  the  gnarled  stems  of  the  olive 
trees,  presented  a  charming  view,  such  as  preterists  and  students  of  an 
cient  history  delight  to  feast  their  eyes  upon.  The  small  town  of 
Eleusis  was,  of  course,  of  deep  interest  to  me;  as  you  remember  from 
Greek  history  that  here  the  celebrated  Eleusian  Mysteries  were  held, 
which  Cato,  who  was  one  of  the  initiated,  claimed  that  they  taught  not 
only  to  live  happily,  but  to  die  with  a  fair  hope. 

"Our  ride  to  Eleusis  and  return  proved  exceedingly  interesting,  arriv 
ing  at  Athens  at  noon.  Zenothemis  was  not  only  congenial  and  delight 
ful  company,  but  his  profound  knowledge  of  all  places  of  interest  in  and 
around  Athens,  its  ancient  ruins,  noted  institutions  and  history,  coupled 
with  his  natural  and  acquired  gift  of  imparting  the  same  in  a  highly 
fascinating  manner  to  others,  made  one  think  of  him  in  regard  to  mat 
ters  Greek  as  a  veritable  living  encyclopaedia. 

"After  dinner,  I  devoted  the  greater  part  of  the  afternoon  in  prepar 
ing  my  magazine  correspondence;  Zenothemis  remarking  that  he  would 
in  the  meantime,  devote  his  time  to  glancing  over  the  manuscript  of  the 
legend  Athonia,  which  he  had  promised  to  impart  to  me  by  reading  the 
same. 

"After  supper  we  passed  the  evening  in  Mr.  Zenothemis' library  room, 
where  he  recounted  the  circumstances  under  which  he  rescued  Athonia, 
or  as  I  shall  call  it,  'The  Four  Hundred,'  from  utter  oblivion,  as  follows : 

"  'My  revered  grandfather  was  a  noted  historian  of  Athens.    While 


34  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

I  was  in  my  youth,  he  was  quite  far  advanced  in  years.  He  was  very 
fond  of  me,  and  our  homes  being  in  close  proximity,  I  was  his  frequent 
visitor.  While  still  a  small  boy,  he  would  place  me  upon  his  knee  and 
relate  fables  such  as  were  suitable  to  one  of  my  age.  My  grandfather 
was  known  by  all  his  acquaintances  as  a  very  interesting  raconteur,  re 
lating  narratives  and  stories  in  such  a  plain  slow  fascinating  manner 
as  to  hold  the  listeners'  close  attention  from  start  to  finish.  He  was  not 
only  a  good  story  teller,  but  his  repertoire  consisted  of  stories  that  were 
good  to  listen  to.  Being  a  professor  of  history  may  to  a  great  degree 
have  accounted  for  his  excellency  as  a  raconteur.  As  I  grew  older,  his 
narratives  changed  to  such  as  distinctly  portrayed  a  moral,  all  of  which 
were  told  in  his  inimitable  entertaining  style. 

"  'Still  later,  he  questioned  me  in  reference  to  the  studies  I  was  pur 
suing,  often  picking  out  and  rehearsing  scraps  of  history  with  which 
they  had  some  relation.  He  was  very  desirous  that  I  should  obtain 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  history  of  Greece,  saying  upon  a  time, 
that  it  was  not  in  the  realms  of  the  impossible,  though  improbable,  that 
in  the  unwritten  future,  events  might  shape  themselves  propitious  for 
the  forming  of  a  grand  Greek  republic,  in  the  establishment  of  which, 
I  should  be  found  thoroughly  equipped  so  as  to  be  able  to  assume  a 
conspicuous  part  in  its  formation.  History,  you  see,'  continued  Mr. 
Zenothemis,  'was  my  lamented  grandfather's  great  forte,  and  the  more 
ancient,  the  more  interest  it  aroused.  I  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age 
when,  one  day  he  said  to  me,  "Zeno,  tomorrow,  there  being  no  school, 
I  want  you  to  come  and  write  down  a  very  ancient  legend,  which  I  will 
rehearse  to  you,  and  you  are  to  write  it  down  and  preserve  it.  The 
name  of  this  legend  is  Athonia,  and  it  is  only  known  to  a  limited  num 
ber  of  historians,  I  believe.  In  fact,  the  period  in  which  the  events  of 
which  it  treats  came  to  pass,  extends  so  far  into  the  misty  past  that 
historians  hesitate  to  record  the  same  in  histories  of  the  present  day. 
From  the  most  thorough  and  exhaustive  researches  made  at  various 
times  years  ago  by  some  of  my  professional  colleagues  and  myself,  it 
has  been  quite  satisfactorily  determined  that  many  hundreds  of  years 
ago  an  original  papyrus  manuscript  of  the  legend  had  been  held  in  one 
of  the  archives  of  an  Egyptian  library." 

"  'Now,'  said  my  friend, Zenothemis, 'tomorrow  morning  being  the  time 
you  set  apart  for  the  purpose  of  writing  down  Athonia  in  shorthand,  as 
I  rehearse  it  to  you,  and  as  you  suggested,  proceed  for  that  purpose  to 
the  Acropolis — to  the  steps  on  the  east  front  of  the  ruins  of  the  Par 
thenon,  I  would  suggest  that  we  start  at  a  very  early  hour,  so  as  to  be 
on  the  Acropolis  before  sunrise.' 

"The  early  part  of  the  forenoon  he  advised  me  was  more  agreeable 
on  account  of  the  heat  than  later  on  toward  noon.  Another  reason,  he 
said,  why  he  preferred  to  start  at  such  an  early  hour,  was  from  the 


Introduction  to  the  Story  35 

well-known  saying  that  the  morning  hour  is  the  golden  hour— the  mind 
being  at  its  best  after  a  night's  restful  slumber.  Philosophers  from  time 
out  of  mind,  he  said,  claim  that  their  most  profound  thoughts  and  hap 
piest  inspirations  occurred  to  them  in  the  early  morning  hours. 

"I  readily  assented  to  his  early-rising  suggestion.  One  condition,  my 
Athenian  friend  imposed  was  not  to  interrupt  him  with  more  than  three 
questions  during  his  narration  of  the  story.  They  could  be  of  whatever 
import  I  desired;  but  I  should  know  in  advance  that  three  questions 
must  be  the  limit ;  as  an  endless  number  of  questions  would  be  liable  to 
entangle  the  smooth-flowing  trend  of  his  narration,  which  he  intended  to 
rehearse  mostly  without  referring  to  the  manuscript. 

"You  will  soon  perceive"  said  Zenothemis,  "in  my  narration  of  the 
story  which  treats  of  an  event  which  is  supposed  to  have  taken  place  at 
a  time  when  the  earth  was  thought  to  be  flat,  that  I  have  been  some 
what  arbitrary  in  the  use  of  names  such  as  Scriborites,  Terrafirma  and 
a  few  others." 

"After  you  have  the  complete  story"  he  said,  "you  may  surmise  why 
I  used  those  names  in  place  of  the  true  Greek."  I  replied  that  my  task 
will  be  to  adhere  to  a  close,  literal  translation  of  the  story  as  narrated 
by  him. 

"The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to  glancing  over  mine 
host's  library,  which  contained  rare  specimens  of  ancient  Greek  art  and 
a  number  of  interesting  volumes  of  ancient  manuscripts,  including  one 
with  cuneiform  writing-. 

"Perceiving  that  mine  host  was  anxious  that  I  should  relate  some  of 
my  own  traveling  experiences  and  adventures  and  that  he  showed  a  deep 
interest  in  regard  to  America,  I  entertained  him  in  those  lines  until  the 
library  room  clock  hinted  that  it  was  time  to  retire  to  our  respective 
couches,  so  as  to  be  able  to  be  up  bright  and  early  next  morning  for  our 
Athonio,  task. 


CHAPTER  II 

ATHENIAN  COMMERCIALISM 

Early  in  the  following  morning,  a  beautiful  May  morning,  after  par 
taking  of  an  early  breakfast,  we  wended  our  way  to  the  Acropolis,  ar 
riving  at  the  Beule  Gate,  which  leads  up  to  the  Acropolis.  Ascending 
the  various  steps,  we  proceeded  directly  to  the  Belvedere  on  the  North 
east  end  of  the  Acropolis.  I  may  remark  here  that  I  had  been  on  the 
Acropolis  on  two  previous  visits,  some  days  before,  and  devoted  several 
hours  each  time  in  going  through  its  museum  and  feasted  my  eyes  on 
the  beautiful  scene  that  presents  itself  to  the  eye  from  the  west  end  of 
the  Temple  of  Nike,  so  poetically  described  by  Byron.  We  arrived  at  the 
Belvedere  about  fifteen  minutes  before  sunrise.  From  the  Belvedere 
one  obtains  the  best  view  of  modern  Athens  and  its  noted  monuments. 

But  to  return  by  short  cut  to  the  legend  which  my  friend  unfolded 
to  me.  We  arrived  at  the  Belvedere  shortly  before  sunrise  and  Mr. 
Zenothemis  said:  "Before  we  go  to  the  ruins  of  the  Parthenon,  let 
us  on  this  beautiful  May  morning,  greet  the  fresh  golden  sun  as  he 
arises  above  the  horizon." 

I  stood  at  the  side  of  my  friend;  and  as  the  sun's  golden  disc  arose 
slowly  above  Mt.  Hymettus  in  the  east,  gilding  with  its  flood  of  light 
hilltops,  spire  and  ruins  old,  my  Athenian  friend  uncovered  his  head 
and,  looking  toward  the  sun,  said  in  solemn  earnestness:  "Phoebus!' 
Heart  of  the  world,  I  thank  you  that  I  am  still  privileged  to  behold 
your  golden  beauty  and  enjoy  your  life-inspiring,  life-giving  rays.  In 
my  eyes,  O  Phoebus!  Thou  standest  next  to  thy  Maker!" 

I  also  removed  my  hat  so  as  to  be  in  accord  with  my  companion. 
Upon  beholding  the  charming  morning  scene,  the  glowing  light  of  dawn 
lending  a  golden  tinge  to  the  pillars  and  remains  of  the  ruins  on  the 
Acropolis  and  those  on  the  Attic  Plain  below,  one  instinctively  reflects  on 
the  wide  contrasts  between  the  ever  young  bright  brilliant  rising  sun  and 
the  perishable  transitory  works  of  mortal  man.  The  Parthenon,  this 
soul-inspiring  ruin,  occupies  the  culminating  point  of  the  Acropolis, 
towering  above  all  the  other  structures  in  its  vicinity. 

After  taking  a  view  of  the  beautiful  scene  spread  out  before  us,  we 
repaired  to  the  east  front  of  the  ruins  of  the  Parthenon  and  ascended  its 
three  steps  and  seated  ourselves  between  two  of  its  massive  columns  on 
the  stylobate  or  platform  on  which  the  columns  stand.  As  we  seated  our 
selves,  Zenothemis,  leaning  against  a  corner  pillar,  and  myself  against 

36 


THE  ACROPOLIS  OF  ATHENS 

On  the  ruins  of  the  Parthenon  of  which  Zenothemis  narrated  and  Delhurst  noted  down 
the  story  of  "Athonia,  or  the  Original  Four  Hundred.11    (See  page  36.) 


Ainenian  Commercialism  37 

the  next  pillar  to  it,  facing  each  other,  my  friend  upon  untying  his  long 
rolled  manuscript,  said: 

"Now,  friend  Delhurst,  we  are  comfortably  seated  upon  the  place 
where  you  preferred  to  note  down  the  ancient  legend  of  Athonia  in 
shorthand,  as  I  rehearse  it  to  you."  "Yes,"  I  replied,  "it  is  here,  on  the 
Acropolis,  sacred  to  your  ancestors,  on  this  spot  which  to  this  day  gives 
evidence  to  the  world  of  the  wonderful,  high  achievements  attained  in 
Grecian  art  centuries  ago,  immortalizing,  as  it  were,  the  names  of 
Iktinos,  Kallikrates,  Phidias,  Pericles  and  a  host  of  other  eminent  Gre 
cians'  works  that  will  be  admired  and  serve  as  models  for  generations  to 
come."  I  opened  my  large  blank  book,  bought  for  the  purpose  of  noting 
down  the  legend  in  shorthand,  upon  which  Mr.  Zenothemis,  after  read 
ing  over  the  beginning  of  his  long  manuscript  roll,  began  to  narrate, 
glancing  at  the  scroll  at  short  intervals,  in  slow,  distinct,  measured  sen 
tences,  as  follows : 

ATHONIA,  OB  THE  ORIGINAL  400 

"A  wealthy,  influential  merchant  of  Phoenicia,  one  who,  like  many  of 
his  Phoenician  countrymen,  owned  ships  that  voyaged  to  foreign  lands,  in 
pursuit  of  trade,  in  which  he  also  had  accumulated  great  wealth,  was  on 
account  of  his  free,  outspoken,  independent  disposition,  brought  into  dis 
favor  with  the  king  of  Tyre,  who  ordered  his  ostracism  from  the  country 
of  Phoenicia  for  the  term  of  twenty-four  moons.  The  merchant  came 
to  Athens,  sojourning  here  a  part  of  the  term  of  his  banishment.  Feel 
ing  deeply  chagrined  at  what  he  claimed  wrong,  unjust  and  unearned 
treatment,  he  determined  in  view  of  the  respect,  friendship  and  cour 
teous  treatment  shown  to  him  by  prominent  citizens  of  Athens,  to  point 
out  to  the  ambitious  Athenians,  the  secret  of  obtaining  wealth  and 
power  far  more  certain  and  powerful  and  lasting  than  through  the 
means  of  uncertain,  destructive  warfare.  The  Phoenician  merchant  soon 
gained  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  the  philosophers  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Athens,  who  courted  his  company  on  account  of  his  varied 
experiences  as  a  voyager  and  also  because  of  his  open-handed  liberality. 
He  greatly  enjoyed  the  company  of  the  theorists,  bards  and  philosophers 
who  dared  to  discuss  subjects  without  end,  conceivable  and  inconceiv 
able,  reaching  unfathomable  heights  and  depths,  subjects  as  to  which 
when  asked  for  his  opinion,  he  would  simply  class  himself  as  a  listener, 
answering  that  he  had  not  given  the  matter  time  and  thought ;  that  per 
haps  both  contestants  might  be  right  or  both  might  be  wrong.  He 
would  not  venture  an  opinion  as  to  questions  which  to  him  seemed 
visionary.  But  when  it  came  to  discussing  matters  that  were  in  the 
realms  of  the  possible  and  practicable,  some  subject  not  misty  or  vision 
ary,  but  of  the  kind  which  pointed  towards  plain  prosaic  results,  the 
opinion  of  the  Phoenician  often  weighed  heavily  in  the  balance  and 


38  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

was  listened  to  with  marked  deference  and  with  the  respect  due  to  one 
who  spoke  from  actual  experience. 

"It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  Phoenician  strenuously  kept  aloof 
from  discussing  questions  that  did  not  promise  tangible  results,  but  was 
under  all  and  every  circumstance  a  practical,  matter-of-fact  merchant. 
He  said  that  the  theories  and  speculations  indulged  in  by  the  bards 
and  philosophers  undoubtedly  tend  towards  placing  mankind  on  a  higher 
level,  but  in  his  opinion  they  did  not  deal  with  the  question  of  the 
shortest  road  towards  accumulation — accumulation  of  wealth — accumu 
lation  of  the  world's  goods.  That,  he  said,  is  what  we  Phoenicians 
are  after.  Not  like  Egypt  and  Greece,  can  Phoenicia  lay  claim  to  the 
arts  and  sciences,  but  unquestionably  it  serves  a  useful  purpose  as 
carriers  of  merchandise  from  one  country  to  another.  The  Phoenician 
merchant,  Ithobal,  expressed  himself  upon  several  occasions,  to  his 
Athenian  friends,  that  it  was  his  belief  that  if  half  of  the  number  of 
bards  and  philosophers  would  apply  their  keen,  brilliant  intellects  and 
enthusiasm  with  their  accustomed  zeal  to  the  subject:  What  position 
does  Commerce  hold  as  a  factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  a  nation?  the 
importance  of  commerce  would  soon  loom  up  to  view. 

"A  number  of  Ithobal's  friends  insisted  that  no  one  was  as  thor 
oughly  equipped  to  speak  upon  that  particular  subject  excathedra  as 
he,  and  kindly  requested  that  he  hold  a  public  discourse  upon  this 
theme  with  the  prominent  Athenians.  The  arguments  brought  to  bear 
upon  him,  why  he  was  the  proper  person  to  speak  upon  that  special 
subject,  were  so  overwhelming  that  he  reluctantly  agreed  to  accede  to 
their  wishes.  It  was  publicly  announced  by  the  crier  that  Mr.  Ithobal, 
the  wealthy  Phoenician  merchant,  was,  upon  request,  going  to  speak 
at  the  Agora  upon  the  subject:  Commerce,  its  importance  as  a  factor 
in  the  upbuilding  and  in  the  maintenance  of  a  great  nation. 

"A  great  nation !  This  is  what  all  Athenians,  in  view  of  their  intel 
lectual  supremacy,  held  Greece  should  be.  A  great  nation !  These  were 
the  words  that  caught  the  ear  and  caused  so  large  an  assemblage  to 
greet  Ithobal  when  he  appeared  before  them  in  the  Agora  to  deliver 
his  address.  Bard,  poet,  sage,  warrior,  philosopher,  orator,  all  crowded 
around  him  in  an  interested,  friendly  and  encouraging  manner,  many 
of  whom  had  thrust  their  lances  into  realms  of  thought  far  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  practical. 

"Ithobal,  knowing  full  well  that  the  audience  contained  a  large 
number  who  were  far  superior  to  him  in  various  important  fields  of 
thought,  fields  in  which  he  had  never  had  opportunity,  inclination  or 
time  to  dwell,  cautiously  decided  to  embody  in  his  remarks  nothing 
but  what  he  knew  from  actual  experience.  To  branch  off  during  his 
address  into  theories  or  misty  speculations,  he  felt,  would  be  exceed- 


Athenian  Commercialism  39 

ingly  venturesome,  as  in  those  fields  the  superior  illumined  skill  of  many 
of  those  present  would  not  fail  to  detect  errors. 

"After  he  had  been  escorted  to  the  rostrum,  two  companies  of  young 
Athenian  warriors,  one  being  archers,  the  other  lancers,  armed  with 
bows  and  arrows,  shields  and  spears,  respectively,  marched  into  the 
Agora,  taking  a  position  on  each  side  of  the  rostrum,  along  the  outside 
of  the  audience,  as  a  mark  of  honor  and  safety  to  the  Phoenician. 

"Ithobal  was  introduced  to  the  audience  by  one  of  his  distinguished 
Athenian  friends,  who  said  among  other  things :  'Although  we  all  know 
that  the  commerce  of  Athens  is  steadily  growing,  as  is  also  the  number 
of  its  colonies,  we  are,  however,  aware  of  the  fact  that,  in  regard  to 
commerce,  there  are  still  many  things  we  can  learn  from  the  Phoenicians. 
I  recall  that  one  of  our  most  distinguished  chroniclers  said  upon  a  time, 
that  the  Phoenicians  have  had  the  misfortune  of  being  described  by 
their  enemies,  therefore  history  does  not  give  them  the  credit  they  de 
serve. 

"  'They  were  the  first  commercial  navigators  and  have  for  moons 
secured  great  wealth,  including  silver  and  gold,  from  distant  shores, 
the  situations  of  which  are  still  unknown  to  us.' 

"Ithobal  desired  him  to  announce  that  he  (Ithobal)  was  not  a 
speaker,  as  he  had  never  spoken  in  public,  but  that  he  had  been  pre 
vailed  upon  in  this  instance  to  such  a  degree  that  it  was  almost  equal 
to  a  command. 

"After  referring  to  the  liberality  shown  to  the  Athenians,  and  the 
friendly  interest  manifested  in  the  welfare  of  Athens,  he  concluded 
by  saying: 

"Fellow  Athenians !  We  know  that  the  Phoenicians  besides  distribut 
ing  wares  (merchandise)  also  have  distributed  the  elements  of  culture 
to  many  distant  lands.  Weights  and  measures,  and  the  all-important 
Alphabet  also,  have  been  brought  to  our  shores  by  the  daring  Phoenicians. 
(Applause.)  And  now,  upon  this  beautiful  morning,  our  distinguished 
Phoenician  friend,  Ithobal,  will,  in  response  to  a  general  request,  speak 
from  experience  on  'The  Importance  of  Commerce  in  Obtaining  Wealth, 
Opulence  and  Power.'  (Applause.) 

"As  Ithobal  arose  to  speak,  the  spearmen  struck  their  burnished 
shields  with  their  lances  and  the  archers  tapped  their  arrows  against 
their  bows,  this  being  their  manner  of  greeting  and  recognizing  a 
strange  speaker's  rights  to  the  floor,  as  it  were,  with  the  assurance 
that  order  would  prevail. 

"Ithobal  began  by  saying :  'Noble  Athenians !  with  great  pleasure  I 
take  the  freedom  of  also  addressing  you  in  harmony  with  the  dictates 
of  my  heart,  namely — My  Athenian  Friends!  (Applause.) 

"  'Upon  having  been  accorded  the  privilege  of  entering  your  city's 


40 


The  Original  Four  Hundred 


walls,  it  seemed,  upon  passing  in  through  the  Dipylum  Gate,  that  a 
feeling-  of  friendship  pervaded  the  very  air.  The  many  courtesies  shown 
to  me  by  your  fellow  citizens,  coupled  with  the  spontaneous  greeting 
extended  to  me  upon  the  present  occasion,  make  me  feel  justified  in 
addressing  you  as  my  Athenian  friends!  (Applause.) 

"  'Having  a  certain  number  of  nioons  allotted  to  me  during  which 
I  am  to  sojourn  in  foreign  lands,  I  concluded  to  while  away  a  number 
of  those  moons  in  your  famous  city  and  the  remainder  in  Egypt. 
In  Egypt  I  intend  to  add  several  camels  to  my  caravan  that  trades 
in  the  lands  east  of  Tyre,  where  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates  flow. 

"  'I  came  to  Athens  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  and  listening  to  your 
orators,  poets,  sages  and  philosophers,  of  whose  fame  I  have  often 
heard  in  my  journeys  by  land  and  sea. 

"  'Now,  Noble  Athenians !  I  came  to  your  city  for  the  very  opposite 
purpose  to  that  which  you  have  prescribed  to  me — not  to  speak,  but 
to  listen,  observe  and  learn.  And  I  dare  say  I  have  done  that  attentively, 
and  will  take  along  with  me  golden  thoughts,  valuable  sayings  and 
philosophical  deductions. 

"  'For  me  to  appear  before  you  as  a  Nestor,  from  whom  I  have 
so  much  to  learn,  would  certainly  be  incongruous.  But,  my  friends,  my 
position  is  rather  to  inform,  or,  more  correctly,  to  report  to  you,  results 
I  have  observed  from  experience  and  not  through  some  intricate,  ab 
stract,  obstruse  course  of  logic. 

"  'Commerce,  the  subject  upon  which  I  have  been  requested  to  dis 
course,  is  a  pursuit  in  which  I  (like  a  large  number  of  my  country 
men)  have  been  engaged  since  my  boyhood  days.  My  native  city  of 
Tyre  may  have  some  advantageous  routes  of  trade,  namely,  caravan 
routes  leading  to  the  interior  of  prosperous  lands.  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  sea  also  presses  with  many  arms  into  your  native  Greece, 
forming  safe  harbors,  inviting  commerce  to  share  the  benefits  to  be 
derived  through  trade  with  foreign  lands.  (Applause.) 

"  'Your  orators,  poets  and  philosophers,  who  have  of  late  given 
special  thought  to  commerce,  believe  as  do  we  Phoenicians,  that  your 
commerce,  although  growing,  is  not  up  to  the  standard  which  your 
otherwise  pre-eminent  position  warrants;  is  not  in  harmony  with  the 
high  standards  of  your  philosophy  and  art. 

"  'Therefore,  I  believe,  have  I  been  requested  to  assist  in  emphasizing 
the  importance  of  commerce.  So  far,  we  Phoenicians  feel  that  next 
to  Neptune,  our  country  is  monarch  of  the  seas. 

"  'The  beneficial  results  of  commerce  are  reciprocal.  It  promotes 
the  prosperity  of  the  land  from  which  and  to  which  a  ship  sails.  In 
some  countries  certain  commodities  are  so  abundant  as  to  be  super 
fluities  and  are  absolutely  valueless  in  such  places,  and  yet  may  be 
of  much  value  in  other  countries. 


Athenian  Commercialism  41 

"'Commerce  is  of  such  great  importance  to  a  nation,  city,  that  it 
should,  Noble  Athenians !  receive  the  aid  and  support  of  all  citizens,  in 
cluding  also  those  citizens  who  are  not  directly  engaged  in  commerce. 

"  'You  are  already  experiencing  the  benefits  of  commerce,  but  not 
to  such  an  extent  as  your  position  would  lead  one  to  expect. 

"  'While  down  at  Phalerum,  your  seaport,  I  observed  that  your 
ships  are  not  near  as  large  as  our  Phoenician  ships,  and  I  was  told 
that  on  distant  voyages  they  seldom  sail  out  of  the  sight  of  the  shore. 
Our  ships  sail  out  of  sight  of  land  for  days  and  to  far-off  shores— lands 
of  which  your  seamen  never  heard. 

"  'It  is  claimed  that  some  of  our  Phoenician  ships  have  sailed  even 
beyond  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  northward — and  returned  with  part 
cargoes  of  tin.  But  so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  Phoenicians  con 
sider  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  as  the  limit  of  western  navigation. 

"  'Commerce  presents  an  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with 
distant  lands  and  their  valuable  resources — their  mines,  metals,  grains, 
fruits  and  wares.  The  wealthy  cities  of  Tyre,  Sidon  and  Carthage 
speak  better  of  the  possibilities  of  commerce  than  anything  I  may 
say  in  reference  to  that  subject.  From  time  immemorial  the  merchant 
cities  of  Tyre  and  Sidon  have  by  their  ships  of  the  desert  and  by 
their  ships  of  the  sea  distributed  the  wares  of  Babylon  and  Egypt  to 
the  rest  of  the  world.  The  Babylonians  say  that  the  Phoenicians 
have  the  roll  of  the  sea  in  their  legs.  Caravans  returning  from  Persia 
say  that  the  Persian  kings  are  profoundly  convinced  that  all  human 
beings  are  their  natural  slaves.  I  was  told  many  moons  ago,  by  one 
of  the  leaders  of  one  of  my  caravans,  that  it  seemed  to  him  that 
the  Persians  were  ambitious  to  subjugate  other  nations  under  its  sway, 
reaching,  perhaps,  as  far  as  your  native  city  of  Athens.  As  time 
moves  on,  the  nations  that  have  accumulated  the  most  wealth  will 
be  able  to  secure  larger  armies  on  the  field  of  battle  and  a  greater 
number  of  ships  on  the  sea,  thus  holding  a  position  of  supremacy 
and  influence.  Wealth  is  not  only  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  de 
sirable  wares,  but  is  eminently  useful  in  securing  the  safety  of  a  nation 
against  foreign  foes.  Such  wealth  can  be  secured  to  a  great  degree 
through  commerce. 

"  'Before  I  proceed  further  it  may  be  well  for  me  to  explain  that  it 
may  seem  to  some  of  you  that  I  am  not  imbued  with  those  traits  which 
are  held  in  so  high  esteem  by  you  all,  namely :  Love,  patriotism  and 
admiration  for  one's  own  native  land.  But  I  dare  say  that  none  of  my 
Phoenician  fellow  citizens  can  lay  a  higher  claim  to  those  honorable, 
praiseworthy  and  noble  attributes  than  I  do.  The  full  reason  why  I 
urge  upon  you  tbe  benefits  of  commerce  in  such  an  open,  unequivocal 
manner,  and  give  you  the  secrets  of  my  own  land,  is  that  I  am  fully 
and  safely  satisfied  that  the  world  is  large  enough  for  both  countries; 


42  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  if  it  would  be  left  to  my  wish,  next  to  my  beloved  Phoenicia,  comes 
your  famous  country  and  city,  Greece — Athens. 

"  'The  influence  exerted  by  your  sages  and  philosophers  in  advocating 
and  encouraging  the  building  of  larger  ships  with  sails,  such  as  the  ships 
of  Phoenicia,  which  speed  over  the  liquid  blue,  by  Aeolus'  all-pervading, 
soft,  pressing  arms,  even  against  the  direction  of  his  course,  would  result 
in  the  upbuilding  of  larger  Athenian  ships.  Yes,  your  felicitous  poets, 
too,  can  greatly  aid  in  creating  interest  in  the  noble,  manly  calling  of 
seamanship  by  composing  heroic  verse  on  wind,  waves,  calms,  storms, 
pirates,  and  the  adventures  incident  to  a  seaman's  life  on  sea  and  in 
far  off  distant  lands.  Measures  by  the  poets  in  praise  of  the  gods,  in 
cluding  Poseidon  (Neptune),  Aeolus,  Zeus,  and  especially  the  gods  of 
Greece  who  are  in  close  touch  with  the  watery  elements.  This  will 
tend  to  elevate  and  ennoble  the  art  of  seamanship.  Those  that  plow 
the  land  and  those  that  plow  the  sea,  be  it  remembered,  are  in  close 
communion  with  the  goddess  Ceres  and  the  gods  Aeolus  and  Poseidon 
(Neptune).  Without  the  favor  and  good  will  of  the  gods,  enduring 
success  in  whatever  undertaking  cannot  be  achieved.  As  in  war,  you 
invoke  the  favor  of  the  gods  of  war;  so,  too,  the  seafarer  must  invoke 
the  power  of  the  gods  that  hold  sway  over  the  elements  with  which 
his  calling  is  surrounded.  Never  does  a  Phoenician  ship  start  upon  its 
voyage  without  burning  incense  upon  the  tripod  in  honor  of  the  gods 
invoking  their  favor  for  a  propitious  voyage  and  a  safe  return.  Many 
are  the  songs  sung  by  our  sailors  in  honor  and  praise  of  the  gods. 

"  'In  speaking  of  songs,  I  can  say,  also,  many  are  the  songs  sung 
by  the  sailors  in  honor  and  remembrance  of  their  loving  sweethearts. 
On  calm,  bright  nights,  on  the  far  distant  sea,  the  watch  and  also  the 
helmsman,  often  sing  in  subdued  voices  songs  of  love  and  hope.  At 
times  it  becomes  necessary  to  command  them  to  modulate  their  voices 
and  not  sing  so  loudly,  which  occurs  at  times  when  a  mind  is  quite 
engrossed  with  the  song  and  forgets  that  it  may  disturb  those  whose 
turn  it  is  to  sleep. 

"  'Referring  to  songs,  recalls  to  memory  an  uncommonly  handsome 
young  sailor  who  was  one  of  my  crew  of  six  on  a  voyage  to  Carthage. 
His  rosy  cheeks,  happy,  sparkling  dark  eyes,  finely  formed  figure  and 
face  with  its  very  dark,  reddish  tinged  whiskers,  coupled  with  an  open, 
congenial  behavior,  must  have  made  him  a  favorite  among  the  opposite 
sex  upon  first  sight.  But  from  what  I  gleaned  from  the  songs  he  sang 
upon  a  still,  clear  night,  while  his  position  was  at  the  helm,  convinced 
me  that  there  was  only  one  maid  in  the  world  for  him.  It  was  a  still, 
clear  night,  far  out  on  the  sea  in  the  vicinity  of  Carthage,  with  only 
enough  wind — what  our  sailors  would  call  a  steering  breeze — and  all 
the  sound  to  be  heard  by  one  lying  in  the  ship's  berth  was  the  rippling 
and  clucking  noise  made  by  the  water  playfully  splashing  against  the 


Athenian  Commercialism  43 

bow  of  the  boat  as  it  moved  slowly  on  its  course  through  the  waters. 
Awakening  from  my  partial  slumber,  I  heard  the  young  helmsman  sing 
ing.  I  listened  to  his  song,  which  he  sang  in  a  subdued  voice  so  as  not  to 
disturb  his  shipmates  in  their  sleep.  He  sang  of  love,  and  sang  with 
such  earnestness,  tenderness  and  feeling  that  one  could  more  than  con 
jecture  that  he  was  not  generalizing,  but  particularizing  in  no  uncer 
tain  degree.  The  quality  of  his  voice  was  not  what  one  might  call 
highly  melodious,  no;  but  it  was  a  strong,  typical  sailor's  voice,  and  it 
was  the  deep  earnestness  and  strong  heartiness  that  made  his  singing 
interesting  and  agreeable.  A  measure  in  one  of  his  love  songs  I  remem 
ber  ran : 

With  her  heavenly  blue  eyes,  her  wealth  of  blond  hair, 

No  other  with  her  in  this  world  can  compare. 

Her  heart  is  as  true  as  the  North  Star  above, 

O  Cupid,  O  Cupid,  protect  my  dear  love 

Till  the  winds,  the  waves  and  the  tides  have  once  more 

Returned  our  fair  ship  to  my  safe  Tyrean  shore. 

"  'Among  his  collection  of  songs  he  also  sang  several  in  praise  of 
our  Phoenician  gods ;  and  I  was  deeply  stirred  as  he  invoked  the  bless 
ings  of  the  gods  for  his  father  and  mother  and  sister  and  brother. 

"  'Yes,  the  sailors,  as  a  class,  may  not  lay  high  claims  to  sweet 
melodiousness  in  their  songs,  but  the  strength  and  forceful  heartiness 
with  which  their  songs  of  the  gods  of  the  Sea  and  Love  are  sung,  make 
them  very  interesting  and  highly  agreeable  to  listen  to,  and  creates 
respect  and  admiration  for  their  manly,  whole-souled  natures,  which 
have  been  broadened  by  their  coming  in  contact  with  the  people  of 
many  climes.  I  have  only  incidentally  referred  to  songs  of  the  sea  so  as 
to  call  the  attention  of  your  Athenian  poets  to  the  useful  part  they  can 
perform  by  embellishing  the  seafarer's  life  with  poems  and  songs  suited 
to  those  whose  vocation  claims  a  great  share  of  their  lifetime  on 
Poseidon's  (Neptune's)  restless  realm.  Your  poets  can  readily  imagine 
that  the  seafarer  who  cannot  abide  long  near  those  of  his  heart's  love, 
finds,  when  far  out  on  the  sea,  an  agreeable  solace  in  being  able  to  give 
expression  in  song  of  his  affection,  remembrance  and  love.  Yes,  love- 
songs,  you  cannot  compose  too  many  of  them.  As  a  bard  sayeth : 

"Far  more  love  and  far  less  hate 
Makes  the  true  ideal  state; 
But  the  day  is  distant  far 
When  good  will's  the  guiding  star." 

"  'Therefore,  combativeness,  strength  and  commerce  must  be  fos 
tered.  The  last  of  which,  Commerce,  I  heard  a  profound  sage  proclaim, 
was  by  its  peaceful  commingling  of  nations,  the  principal  star  that  is  to 


44  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

lead  the  human  family  forward  and  upward  to  eventually  proclaim  the 
brotherhood  of  man. 

"  'In  regard  to  song  again,  before  I  proceed  further,  I  have  observed 
through  experience,  that  whenever  joyousness  and  labor  can  go  hand 
in  hand  it  is  also  well  to  let  the  first  have  full  sway.  In  the  pulling 
and  hauling  of  ropes,  rowing,  weighing  of  anchors  or  hoisting  of  sails, 
the  work  proceeds  faster  and  easier  when  accompanied  by  a  short, 
suitable  measured  song.  One  thing  I  have  often  noted,  and  which  has 
at  times  caused  me  to  smile,  namely :  when  we  had  reached  the  farther 
most  point  of  our  voyage,  and  left  the  harbor  or  weighed  the  anchor, 
bound  on  our  homeward  course,  how  soon  even  those  who  seemed  to  be 
strangers  to  song,  would  instinctively  hum  or  sing  their  favorite  ditties. 
It  does  one  good  to  know  that  one's  shipmates  have  homes  which  they 
love  and  value.  Noticing  the  agreeable  change  that  comes  over  the 
sailor  on  a  long  voyage,  as  soon  as  a  ship  turns  its  course  towards 
home,  I  have  often  thought : 

When  the  ship  is  homeward  bound, 
Then  the  sailor's  songs  resound 
Oftener  far,  and  happier,  too, 
Than  when  bidding  home  adieu. 

"  'Babylonians  call  my  native  city  of  Tyre  "a  mart  of  nations."  I 
remarked  before  that  Poseidon's  (Neptune's)  realm  is  large  enough 
for  more  than  one  nation's  ships  to  float  upon.  But  I  must  dwell  upon 
the  advice  that  when  your  ships  are  built  and  ready  to  embark  upon 
the  wide,  open  sea  voyages  great  caution  must  be  observed  not  to  sail 
to  or  near  to  any  of  the  Phoenician  colonies  or  ports,  as  a  conflict  dis 
astrous  to  your  commercial  designs  would  certainly  follow.  "Steer  clear 
out  of  sight  of  all  Phoenician  colonies  and  ships,"  is  the  motto  with 
which  every  Athenian  ship  should  acquaint  itself  and  follow.  The 
northern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  I  believe,  offer  uncontested  shores 
for  your  ships. 

"Before  I  depart  for  Egypt  I  will  draw  a  sketch  on  papyrus  as  far  as 
my  knowledge  extends,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  of  the  Phoenician 
colonies  which  are  to  be  avoided  by  your  ships.  Carthage  especially 
should  be  kept  out  of  vision,  as  their  extreme  jealousy  extends  into 
immediate  action.  My  native  Phoenicia  has  held  the  undisputed  sway 
of  Neptune's  realms  since  time  out  of  mind ;  and  it  is  almost  second 
nature  for  her  to  entertain  that  privilege  as  her  very  own.  Steer  wide 
out  of  the  course  of  her  ships.  Although  Neptune's  realm  is  endless, 
it  has  even  happened,  with  all  his  space,  that  Phoenician  ships  far  out 
at  sea,  in  dense  fogs,  have  run  into  each  other  with  disastrous  results. 
As  on  land,  so  it  is  on  the  sea ;  one  cannot  steer  clear  of  the  courses 
determined  by  the  Fates.  Commerce  offers  an  interesting  opportunity 


Athenian  Commercialism  45 

for  the  display  of  Athenian  daring  and  adventure,  which  admirable 
qualities  it  is  known  are  inherent  in  a  high  degree  in  the  Grecian 
nature. 

"  'I  wish  to  emphasize  that  with  Athenian  art,  Athenian  science, 
Athenian  philosophy,  Athenian  research,  Athenian  poetry,  Athenian 
oratory,  Athenian  adventure,  Athenian  courage,  daring  and  Athenian 
enthusiasm,  coupled  with  preconceived,  unflagging  commerce,  your  na 
tive  Hellas  will  rise  in  time  as  a  nation  of  wealth,  power  and  influence 
far  beyond  your  most  sanguine  hopes  and  expectations. 

"  'Every  stranger  that  is  permitted  to  enter  your  city  cannot  fail  to 
be  elevated  and  delighted  upon  beholding  your  magnificent  works  of 
art.  In  such  higher,  finer  touches  of  mind,  heart  and  hand,  Athens 
stands  supreme.  In  my  busy  life  upon  the  sea  I  have  never  had  an 
opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  useful  side  of  art.  I  only 
held  the  dim  idea  that  art  only  intended  to  portray  the  beautiful  alone, 
and  that  it  required  long  study  in  order  to  understand  art  in  an 
appreciative  manner.  But  some  of  the  exquisite  works  of  your  sculp 
tors  express  themselves  in  audible  tones.  At  first  glance,  the  expres 
sion  of  countenance,  posture,  attitude,  strikingly  portray  the  idea  in 
tended  to  be  conveyed. 

"  'The  usefulness  of  art  is  becoming  more  and  more  apparent  to  me. 
I  believe  that  it  can  exert  a  great  influence  in  favor  of  commerce  and 
serve  as  a  powerful  factor  toward  the  realization  of  success.  In  art, 
what  a  world  of  fancy  floats  before  me.  In  art,  how  pointed  and  ex- 
altingly  could  some  one  from  among  your  many  sculptors  symbolize 
commerce. 

"  'I  will  only  venture  to  describe  an  imaginary  work  of  art  which  I 
would  suggest  to  symbolize  Commerce.  Any  of  your  many  sculptors 
eould  and  would  improve  upon  my  suggestion  beyond  comparison.  I 
will  attempt  to  describe,  in  my  crude  manner,  my  imaginary  symbol 
of  Commerce. 

"  'Let  us  suppose  a  large  monument  of  enduring  marble  situated  upon 
an  elevation  within  the  walls  of  Athens.  Imagine  mounted  upon  a 
high  pedestal,  the  figure  of  a  daring  Athenian  youth,  standing  erect 
with  his  right  arm  extended,  holding  a  caduceus  in  his  hand,  pointing 
to  the  sea;  his  head  to  be  ornamented  with  erect  seagull's  wings;  in 
his  left  hand  a  small  mast  and  sail  resting  and  extending  over  his  left 
shoulder;  on  the  base  at  his  feet,  a  small  bale  signifying  merchandise, 
anchor  and  rope.  This,  as  you  will  readily  perceive,  is  a  rude,  imaginary 
picture  of  what  I  would  call  the  God  of  Commerce.  Such  a  monu 
ment  as  your  artists  could  design  it,  durable  as  it  would  be,  would 
serve  to  remind  and  encourage  generations  of  Athenians  of  the  im 
portance  and  value  of  commerce.  The  striking  figure  of  the  God  of 
Commerce,  pointing  out  to  sea,  although  mute,  would  be  equal  to  saying : 


46  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Out !  Far  out,  o'er  the  liquid  blue, 
There's   wisdom,   power   and  wealth   for  you, 
On  distant  shores  I  point,  remind 
Valuable  wares  and  gold,  you  will  find." 

"  'Such  an  imposing,  durable  symbol  of  commerce  as  your  skillful 
artists  would  execute  and  erect,  would  not  fail  to  enthuse  generation 
after  generation  with  a  commercial  spirit  and  also  would  not  fail  to 
exalt  commerce  even  in  the  eyes  of  your  artists  and  most  profound 
Athenian  statesmen,  philosophers  and  poets. 

"  'Athenian  friends !  A  new  couplet  has  just  formed  itself  in  my  mind 
and  I  believe  it  contains  and  expresses  and  strongly  emphasizes  in  a 
condensed  form,  all  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of  Commerce.  It  is : 

A  nation  to  be  grand, 

Must  rule  on  sea  and  land.  (Applause.) 

"  'My  Athenian  friends !  Allow  me  to  say  that  it  seems  to  me  you 
have  not  fully  responded  to  the  language  of  the  splashing  sea  in  your 
sheltered  shores  and  bays,  although  it  has  spoken  to  you,  Athenians,  as 
follows,  for  endless  moons: 

"Come!  Come!  Come!  Come! 

Sail  out,  o'er  our  waters  blue; 
To  far-off,  wonderful  distant  lands, 
There's  power  and  wealth  for  you." 

Thus  spoke  the  swaying,  restless  sea, 

All  along  your  shore, 
But,  oh,  you  did  not  understand 

The  language  of  its  roar. 

"  'However,  as  a  Phoenician,  I  may  underestimate  your  commerce, 
and  I  am  moved  to  believe,  in  the  interest  manifested  toward  commerce 
by  your  philosophers  and  bards,  that  the  Fates  have  decreed  that 
Athenian  commerce  in  the  near  future  will  flourish,  and  possibly  Athens 
become  a  famous  mart  of  nations.  (Applause.) 

"  'In  conclusion,  I  only  wish  to  hint  to  a  trite  saying  known  to  every 
boy  in  Phonecia,  and  it  lies  wholly  in  your  power  to  profit  by  its  pre 
cepts,  namely :  "The  ship  bringeth  abundance  from  afar." 

"At  the  conclusion  of  Ithobal's  address,  as  a  mark  of  respect,  the 
archers  raised  their  bows  and  struck  them  with  their  arrows,  and  the 
spearsmen  in  the  same  attitude,  struck  their  bronze  shields  with  their 
lances. 

"A  young  Athenian  maiden  was  then  escorted  into  the  presence  of 
Ithobal  and  crowned  Ithobal  with  a  wreath  of  oak  leaves.  The  promi 
nent  members  of  the  audience  expressed  their  appreciation  with  enthusi 
asm  and  thanks. 


Athenian  Commercialism  47 

"It  was  known  only  to  a  few  of  the  most  intimate  friends  of  the 
Phoenician  that  Ithobal  was  an  assumed  name,  under  which  he  trav 
eled  for  the  period  of  his  ostracism.  The  Phoenician  merchant  gave 
as  the  reason  for  his  ostracism  that  he  had,  in  conversation  with 
friends,  strongly  expressed  his  doubts  as  to  whether  the  king  of  Tyre 
had  a  right  to  the  claim  that  his  royal  house  had  descended  from  the 
Gods.  The  decree  of  ostracism  did  not  impair  his  right  and  title  to 
his  Tyrean  estate,  nor  deprive  him,  after  the  expiration  of  the  time 
decreed,  of  his  citizenship.  All  that  was  required,  was  his  solemn 
promise  to  observe  in  the  future  obedience  to  and  respect  for  his  sov 
ereign." 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  BUILDING    OF  THE  GREAT  SHIP  AEOLUS 

For  many  inoons  the  principal  topic  which  engrossed  the  attention 
of  the  philosophers  and  prominent  citizens  of  Athens  was  in  regard 
to  the  building  of  big  ships.  A  large  number  of  the  prominent  citizens 
offered  to  supply  the  necessary  wood  and  materials  and  the  young 
warriors  were  allowed  to  assist  in  the  labor  of  construction,  many  of 
whom,  having  previously  built  smaller  boats,  offered  their  services. 
The  prominent  citizens  agreed  that  the  best  policy  was  to  build,  not 
several  ships,  but  one  large  ship,  the  dimensions  of  which  should  be 
so  great  that  no  other  nation  could  ever  attempt  to  equal  it  in  size. 
Its  dimensions  should  be  such  as  to  inspire  terror,  as  well  as  wonder 
and  admiration,  in  all  before  whose  vision  it  should  appear;  in  fact, 
so  large  as  to  justify  its  being  classed  as  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
world.  This,  it  was  agreed,  would  preclude  all  efforts  to  baffle  their 
commercial  designs.  Another  prominent  reason  why  it  was  decided  to 
build  such  a  colossal  ship  was  that  it,  should  be  a  sample  ship ;  there 
fore  it  should  necessarily  be  of  an  unusual  size  so  as  to  be  able  to 
accommodate  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  intended,  namely,  to  carry 
many  samples  of  every  sort  and  kind  of  goods  and  wrares  for  the  pur 
pose  of  giving  and  exhibiting  them  in  the  various  countries  and  ports 
at  which  the  ship  might  land. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  building  of  the  ship  the  assistance  of  the 
gods  in  the  great  undertaking  was  invoked.  A  long  exhortation  to  the 
gods,  by  the  builder,  beginning: 

"Gods,  O  come  and  crowd  around  me,  each  and  every  one, 
Lend  your  wisdom,  pray,  unto  me,   till  my  work  is  done." 

Simultaneously  with  the  building  of  the  great  ship,  hundreds  of 
hand  spindles  were  dexterously  turned  by  willing  Athenian  maidens 
in  spinning  yarn  from  flax  and  Egyptian  cotton  to  be  woven  into  cloth 
for  the  ship's  large  and  numerous  sails.  Other  men  and  maidens  busied 
themselves  in  dexterously  twisting  hemp  into  ropes,  cords  and  twine 
for  the  rigging  and  hauling  and  hoisting  gear. 

The  art  of  spinning  and  weaving  was  included  in  the  curriculum 
of  the  highest,  well-to-do  maidens,  who  vied  with  each  other  in  the 
deftness  of  manipulating  the  spindle  and  the  loom.  The  day  and 

48 


The  Building  of  the  Great  Ship  Aeolus  49 

evening  spinning  and  weaving  gatherings  were  agreeably  interspersed 
with  feast-like  repasts  and  enlivened  with  merry  song;  and  at  times 
ending  with  dancing.  The  work  of  the  Athenian  maidens  was  akin  to 
a  labor  of  love — spinning  and  weaving  the  cloth  for  the  sails  of  the 
ship  in  which  so  many  of  their  young  men  acquaintances  were  going 
to  sail  upon  the  deep,  rolling  liquid  blue. 

After  a  period  of  time  in  which  nearly  the  four  seasons  had  twice 
come  and  gone,  the  grand  ship  with  its  double  deck,  numerous  depart 
ments,  four  masts  furnished  and  rigged  with  many  sails,  lay  proudly 
in  the  harbor  of  Phalerum,  the  seaport  of  Athens.  It  was  substan 
tially  built  of  suitable  wood,  securely  bolted  and  fastened  with  strong 
oaken  bolts.  Along  its  sides  were  two  tiers  of  small  square  openings 
fitted  with  thick  wooden  doors,  which  in  fair  weather  could  be  opened 
for  the  admittance  of  light  and  air.  At  the  prow  of  the  vessel  was  a 
large  artistically  carved  figure  representing  Neptune  holding  a  spiral 
seashell  horn  in  his  left  hand,  and  a  bronze  trident  in  his  right.  On 
each  side  of  the  ship  was  an  elegant  painting  representing  a  mermaid 
of  natural  size,  holding  herself  with  her  hands  to  two  oaken  bolts  pro 
truding  from  the  ship's  side.  The  mermaid,  with  her  wealth  of  rich 
flowing  dark  sea-green  hair,  fair  complexion,  smiling  countenance  and 
slender  form,  was  classed  as  a  true  work  of  art.  Her  gracefully  curved 
tail,  extending  down  beyond  the  water's  edge,  greatly  added  to  the 
realistic  effect  of  the  painting.  The  stern  of  the  ship  was  also  beau 
tifully  embellished  with  endless  circular  streaks  running  in  all  direc 
tions  in  which  the  almost  invisible  outlines  of  a  hand,  the  fingers  of  which 
extended  to  the  limit  of  the  streaks,  appeared,  indicating,  as  it  were,  the 
all-pervading  powerful  hand  of  Aeolus,  the  God  of  the  Winds.  Under 
this  painting  in  Phoenician  letters,  stood  the  word  Aeolus,  the  ship's 
name,  in  honor  of  the  God  of  the  Winds.  Excepting  the  carvings  at 
the  prow,  and  the  painting  at  the  sides  and  stern,  the  ship,  as  a  whole, 
was  of  natural  wood  color — unpainted.  It  stood  high  up  out  of  the 
water  and  resembled  a  monstrous  floating  castle. 

One  of  its  seamen  called  down  to  the  spectators  standing  upon 
the  wharves :  ''This  ship  can  defy  the  gods !" 

An  ominous  silence  fell  momentarily  upon  the  crowd.  Look  met 
look,  saying  plainer  than  tongue  could  utter,  "Is  it  possible  that  he 
should  speak  thus?"  Yes,  all  heard  it.  He  had  spoken  with  a  seaman's 
strong  voice.  Earnest,  angry  looks  were  cast  up  to  where  the  sailor 
stood.  A  general  uneasiness  pervaded  the  crowd.  All  agreed  that 
their  ears  agreed.  Such  an  unhappy,  thoughtless,  irreverential  remark 
forbode  an  evil  omen.  The  restlessness  of  the  crowd  increased.  It 
was,  to  a  man,  demanded  that  the  sailor  should  be  strongly  reprimanded, 
chastised;  should  not,  for  the  safety  of  the  ship,  be  permitted  to  sail 
along  on  its  journey. 


50  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

After  a  hasty  consultation  of  the  most  prominent  personages  pres 
ent,  it  was  agreed  to  ask  an  audience  with  the  captain,  which  was  im 
mediately  granted.  The  self-constituted  committee  informed  the  captain 
of  the  profane  remarks  made  by  one  of  the  ship's  crew  to  the  crowd 
on  the  wharf  below.  He  became  visibly  affected  and  instantly  ordered 
his  first  officer  to  form  the  full  ship's  crew  into  line  and  march  them 
before  him  at  once.  Without  delay,  the  full  row  of  seamen  were  stand 
ing  in  line  along  the  sea  side  of  the  ship's  deck.  "Seamen!"  said  the 
captain,  "I  am  told  that  one  of  my  crew  shouted  down  to  the  people 
on  the  wharf :  'This  ship  can  defy  the  gods !'  He  that  has  allowed  his 
tongue  to  form  such  a  remark  step  forward  seven  paces." 

All  remained  standing  in  line,  motionless.  A  deep  silence  followed. 
"Now,"  ordered  the  captain,  "I  shall  once  more  repeat  my  command, 
and  if  not  instantly  obeyed  the  guilty  one  shall  be  punished  with  death 
before  Phosbus  (the  Sun)  has  moved  five  spaces  toward  its  setting." 

Before  the  captain  had  time  to  repeat  his  command  a  sailor  stepped 
out  of  the  ranks  and  fell  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  the  captain.  "Yes," 
continued  the  captain,  "you  should  not  fall  at  my  feet,  but  before  the 
feet  of  the  gods.  Profaner,  arise!  The  first  officer  will  immediately 
order  your  shipmates  to  tie  a  rope  around  under  your  arms,  hoist  you 
out  over  the  waters,  up  to  the  yard's  arm,  immerse  you  thrice  in  the 
waters  below  and  then  swing  you  upon  the  wharf,  after  which  you 
will  never  again  be  allowed  inside  the  ship's  walls.  Thereafter  be 
diligent  in  making  your  peace  with  the  gods." 

The  spectators  on  the  wharf  had  not  long  to  wait  before  the  guilty 
seaman  was  seen  dangling  at  the  end  of  a  rope  from  the  yard's  arm 
high  over  the  water,  from  which  position  he  was  thrice  immersed  in 
the  sea  and  then  swung  upon  the  wharf  among  the  spectators  in  a 
water-dripping  plight.  He  made  his  exit  from  the  crowd  with  all  due 
speed.  The  crowd  was  greatly  pleased  that  he  was  not  to  take  part 
in  the  ship's  voyage  and  that  he  had  received  his  just  deserts. 

The  command  of  the  ship  was  entrusted  to  Arteus,  a  native  of 
Athens.  He  was  especially  chosen  for  his  thorough  knowledge  of  sea 
manship,  besides  being  known  by  the  Athenian  barterers  as  highly 
honorable  and  trustworthy.  Arteus  prided  himself  on  being  a  descend 
ant  of  a  long  line  of  daring  seafarers,  claiming  that  his  immediate,  as 
well  as  ante-immediate  forefathers  were  adventurous  sea  rovers  and 
pirates,  adding  that  all  shipmen  on  the  high  seas  were  pirates  as  soon 
as  a  favorable  opportunity  presented  itself  for  capturing  anything  of 
value  on  sea  or  shore  excepting  those  seamen  who  sail  in  the  merchant 
ships  of  Tyre,  Sidon  and  Carthage.  These  also  under  favorable  con 
ditions  accepted  the  part  of  the  sea  robbers,  but  on  a  higher  plane,  in 
that  they  were  more  particular  in  regard  to  the  value  and  opportunity 
offered,  and  would  not  take  life  if  it  could  possibly  be  avoided. 


The  Building  of  the  Great  Ship  Aeolus  51 

The  other  officers  and  the  ship's  crew  were  selected  by  an  ap 
pointed  committee  with  the  advice  of  Captain  Arteus,  all  of  whom  had 
to  pass  a  rigid  examination  in  regard  to  age,  height,  lineage,  health, 
experience  and  character.  Hilicarus,  Loginus  and  Aristodes  were  ap 
pointed  second,  third  and  fourth  shipmasters,  respectively.  After  the 
ship's  full  complement  of  sailors  had  been  carefully  selected,  a  large 
quantity  of  various  sorts  and  samples  of  Athenian  merchandise  were 
loaded  into  the  ship  for  the  purpose  of  barter  and  display,  also  some 
to  be  given  as  presents  to  individuals  of  influence  on  foreign  shores 
when  deemed  good  policy. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  PERSONNEL   COMPOSING    THE   GREA7    SHIP'S 
VOYAGERS 

The  Athenian  committee  found  that  they  had  builded  even  larger 
than  they  knew.  The  carrying  capacity  of  the  ship  exceeded  their 
calculations  by  far.  With  the  inception  of  the  building  of  the  ship,  it 
was  the  intention  that  a  number  of  the  most  intelligent  young  men 
and  trades  people  should  accompany  and  take  active  interest  in  its 
commercial  voyage.  But  even  then  it  was  found  that  a  large  unoccupied 
space  remained.  The  committee  decided  to  postpone  the  departure  of 
the  ship  for  a  half  moon,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  ample  time  in 
which  to  select  a  greater  number  of  young  Athenians  as  comis-voyages, 
so  to  speak,  during  which  time  also  new  additions  of  specimens  were 
to  be  added  to  those  already  on  board.  After  due  deliberation,  the 
committee,  consisting  of  philosophers,  poets  and  intelligent  barterers, 
formulated  a  concise  plan,  stating  the  purpose  for  which  the  grand 
ship  was  to  serve,  including  the  regulations  and  rules  of  order  to  be 
observed  and  recognized  during  this  voyage.  The  committee  stated,  in 
short,  that:  "The  alpha  and  omega  of  the  building  of  the  proud  ship 
Aeolus  is  to  foster  Athenian  commerce  and  navigation." 

The  majority  of  the  committee  held  the  opinion  that  without  the 
aid  of  the  fair  half  of  humanity,  great  undertakings  of  a  peaceful 
nature  are  not  so  liable  to  be  crowned  with  success  and  that  it  would 
be  of  no  inconsiderable  influence  in  creating  a  true  spirit  of  Athenian 
commercialism  if  the  gentler  sex  also  were  to  take  part  in  the  adven 
ture.  Therefore,  it  was  decreed  that,  in  addition  to  the  large  number 
of  choice  young  men,  a  like  number  of  maidens,  belonging  to  the  same 
exclusive  class  of  citizens,  should  also  accompany  them  on  the  indefinite 
voyage.  The  committee  consisting  of  some  of  the  most  luminous  minds 
gave  this  grand  enterprise  their  most  earnest  and  profound  thoughts. 

Not  only  should  the  great  ship  Aeolus  be  a  sample  ship  on  account 
of  its  own  unequaled  grandeur  and  the  specimen  samples  of  wares  it 
held,  but  also  the  crew  and  all  of  the  ship's  voyagers  should  in  every 
respect  represent  the  highest  living  ideals  of  typical  Athenian  manhood 
and  womanhood,  all  of  whom  should  be  between  226  moons  (18  years) 
and  348  moons  (29  years)  of  age.  The  young  men  and  the  young 
maidens  were  carefully  selected  from  the  limited  circle  of  Athens'  high 
est,  most  exclusive  and  refined  set.  The  points  constituting  eligibility 
were:  Ancestry,  House,  Health,  Stature,  Courage,  Strength,  Beauty  and 

52 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     53 

Grace;  and  all  were  required  to  be  graduates  of  Athens'  philosophical 
schools. 

Never  since  Phoebus  first  drove  his  chariot  over  the  blue  vault  above 
did  human  eyes  feast  on  such  an  aggregation  of  manly  men  and  beau 
tiful,  womanly  women.  A  few  days  prior  to  the  time  set  for  the  ship's 
departure,  which  time  should  only  be  known  to  the  inner  circle,  so  to 
speak,  a  banquet  was  held  in  the  gymnasium  in  honor  of  the  partici 
pants  of  the  great  adventure. 

The  feast  was  opened  by  Zenolios,  priest  of  the  Goddess  Athene. 
Zenolios  placed  one  golden,  two  silver,  four  bronze  tripods,  equi-distant 
apart  on  the  long  boards  around  which  were  seated  the  members  of  the 
expedition  and  all  those  Athenians  belonging  to  the  same  social  scale. 
After  the  tripods  had  been  filled  with  sweet  incense,  Zenolios  passed 
around  and  lit  them  with  virgin  fire,  obtained  by  wood  friction,  in 
voking  the  favor  of  Pallas  Athene,  Goddess  of  Athens,  and  spoke  as 
follows : 

"Goddess  Athene!  Thou  sprung  from  the  brain  of  the  all-wise 
ruler  of  the  world,  Zeus ;  we  invoke  thee  and  humbly  implore,  allow  the 
sweet  curling  incense  now  arising,  to  ascend  to  your  high  Olympian 
abode  and  accept  it  as  sweet  savor  from  mortal  man  in  the  same  spirit 
which  kindled  it,  imbued  with  deep  reverence  and  awe  for  thine  wis 
dom  and  power.  From  thine  Olympian  heights,  O  Athene,  thou  with- 
holdest  or  giveth  wisdom  to  man  in  his  undertakings.  Thou,  O  Athene, 
who  giveth  wisdom  to  conquer  obstacles,  thou  who  lent  thy  aid  to 
Heracles  and  to  Theseus  in  their  daring  adventures.  O  Athene,  thou, 
who  also  favored  our  Grecian  forefathers  in  their  battles  against  Troy 
and  lent  thy  aid  to  the  Argonauts  on  their  expedition  to  Colchis  in 
search  of  the  Golden  Fleece;  thou,  O  Athene,  we  humbly  implore  thee, 
imbue  the  commanders  of  the  grand  ship  Aeolus  with  the  necessary 
wisdom  and  power  to  successfully  complete  its  adventurous  expedition 
and  guide  the  helmsmen  from  the  hidden  dangers  of  the  deep,  un 
fathomable  liquid  blue.  Behold,  O  Athene,  the  ship  Aeolus'  precious 
cargo — 'the  flower  of  Athens.'  We  implore  thee  again  and  again,  in 
our  humbleness,  vouchsafe  unto  the  adventurers  a  propitious  voyage 
and  a  safe  return." 

After  the  priest's  invocation  the  assemblage  seated  themselves  again 
to  partake  of  the  feast  before  them,  whereupon  several  of  the  eminent 
philosophers,  bards  and  orators  of  the  assemblage  dwelt  upon  subjects 
germane  to  the  commercial  adventure,  the  gist  of  which  can  be  sur 
mised  from  the  various  subjects  touched  upon,  including  "The  Flower 
of  Athens,"  "Ithobal,  the  Phoenician,"  "Wind,  Waves,  Storm  and 
Lightning,"  "The  Rainbow  Flag,"  "A  Calm,"  or  "When  Neptune  Sleeps," 
"Cloud-compelling  Jove,"  "In  Search  of  the  Golden  Fleece,"  "Ulysses 
Homeward  Bound,"  and  subjects  of  like  tenor. 


54  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Euripostes,  who  spoke  on  Ithobal,  a  Man  of  the  World,  said:  "Pel- 
low  Athenians!  It  is  certainly  an  honor  to  be  called  to  speak  upon 
the  subject,  'A  Great  Man,  a  real  Man  of  the  World.'  And  I  claim 
that  although  he,  himself,  never  realized  it,  Ithobal,  the  Phoenician, 
in  his  line  of  thought  which  involves  Commerce,  is  a  great  man  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word.  Endowed  by  the  gods,  with  such  insight  and 
capabilities  as  are  required  by  the  daring  and  venturesome,  his  voyages 
upon  the  wide  seas  to  many  distant  lands  enabled  him  to  gather  the 
wisdom  of  the  world.  Truly  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal  is  a  man 
of  the  world.  He  was,  upon  his  journey,  confronted  not  with  specula 
tions  and  visionary  theories  but  with  visible  conditions.  While  the 
ship  was  sailing  on  its  voyages,  he  had  ample  time  to  ponder  on  his 
observations  and  experiences  among  strange  people  on  distant  shores. 
The  wide,  endless  expanse  of  seas  over  which  he  has  swept  his  eyes 
have  also  aided  and  broadened  his  mind  beyond  the  limited  view  of  the 
landsman.  His  practical  world  knowledge  is  such  that  he  readily  sifts 
the  chaff  and  retains  the  kernel. 

"In  conversation  I  notice  he  hesitates  to  indulge  in  uncertain  flighty 
speculations.  He  prefers  to  stand  on  his  feet,  prefers  to  converse  on 
matters  that  would  bring  tangible  results,  such  as  he  advocated  Com 
merce  would  do.  Who  is  a  great  man?  I  would  say  a  great  man  is  one 
who  has  been  favored  by  the  gods;  one  whose  mind  has  been  broad 
ened  by  coming  in  contact  with  peoples  of  many  lands  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  be  pre-eminently  able  to  formulate  great  noble  projects, 
coupled  with  the  ability  of  carrying  them  out  successfully.  The  valu 
able,  noble  results  your  voyage  may  achieve,  will  speak  louder  of  his 
wisdom  than  any  words  can  express  at  the  present  time.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  rehearse  the  many  golden  thoughts  he  gave  to  us  in  his 
plain,  straightforward,  open  address  several  moons  ago  for  which  he 
is  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  our  whole  Greek  nation.  *  *  * 

"I  can  truthfully  say: 

A  man  of  wisdom  of  the  world, 

To  Greece,  commercial  power  unfurled.       (Applause.) 

"Therefore,  in  conclusion,  may  we  all  arise  and  give  seven  cheers 
for  our  absent  Phoenician  friend,  Ithobal."  (Great  applause.) 

Clastonius  spoke  on  the  subject,  "Wind."  "Now,"  he  said,  "fellow 
Athenians,  wind  is  what  I  am  to  talk  about.  I  may  say  that  al 
though  your  grand  voyage  cannot  proceed  without  wind,  it  cannot 
be  called  a  windy  affair.  You  have  named  your  ship  Aeolus  in  honor  of 
the  powerful  God  of  the  Winds.  A  greater  and  more  appropriate 
honor  could  certainly  not  be  devised  by  the  mind  of  man.  Fellow 
Athenians!  Corinna,  one  of  your  courageous  voyagers,  has  writ 
ten  a  poem  in  honor  of  Aeolus  which  will  be  read  by  your  noble  maiden 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      55 

on  the  ship  upon  its  departure.  This  relieves  me  of  a  great  deal  I 
might  say  in  regard  to  the  God  of  the  Winds.  Seers  often  predict 
coming  events  from  the  sighing  and  the  roaring  and  the  whispering 
of  the  winds.  Winds  at  different  times  blow  from  different  directions. 
The  North  wind  brings  to  mind  icy  mountains  and  in  its  course  instills 
courage,  stamina  and  endurance. 

"The  East  wind  from  the  land  of  the  rising  sun  has  moisture  in  its 
course  and  creates  a  sullen  and  indifferent  mood. 

"The  West  wind  from  the  sunset  land  is  suggestive  of  youth,  in 
spires  hope  and  adventure. 

"The  South  wind  brings  to  view  orange  groves  and  palms  and  is 
suggestive  of  effeminate  luxurious  ease. 

"Young  adventurers !  I  will  emphasize  this :  Never  allow  yourselves 
to  find  fault  with  the  wind,  and  also  do  not  find  fault  with  the  weather. 
It  is  plain  that  such  as  find  fault  with  wind  and  weather  have  not 
asked  themselves,  'From  whence  does  the  weather  come?  Who  gives 
us  the  wind  and  weather?'  Such  indicate  that  they  do  not  recognize 
the  experience,  love  and  wisdom  of  our  gods,  and  verily  do  not  bear 
in  mind  'The  fear  of  the  gods  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom.'  We  frail 
mortals  of  but  a  few  moons'  sojourn  on  this  flat  earth,  who  find  fault 
with  the  elements  controlled  and  moved  by  the  wise,  endlessly  experi 
enced  gods — surely  none  excepting  such  who  allow  themselves  to  be 
touched  by  a  dense  spirit  of  ignorance,  will  dare  it.  The  wise  doings 
of  the  gods  go  beyond  mortal's  comprehension. 

"The  ship,  having  been  named  Aeolus,  we  hope  the  God  of  the 
Winds  will  not  be  unmindful  of  same,  and  I  only  wish  to  add:  'May 
the  winds  that  waft  your  grand  ship  over  the  liquid  blue,  be  such  that 
you  can  look  back  upon  a  pleasant,  successful  voyage.' "  (Applause.) 

Theodorus  spoke  on  the  subject,  "The  Flower  of  Athens." 

"Fellow  Grecians!  This  farewell  feast,  held  in  honor  of  our  noble 
Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  who  are  to  sail  on  the  great  ship  Aeolus  out 
to  far  off  unknown  shores,  can  rightly  be  called  a  feast  in  honor  of 
'The  Flower  of  Athens,'  of  which  the  daughters  of  Athens  form  the 
beautiful  corolla.  It  is  not  wealth  and  fine  raiment  only  which  dis 
tinguishes  our  select  Four  Hundred  voyagers;  O  no,  but  it's  their 
inherited  and  acquired  excellence,  including  beauty,  stateliness  and 
strength  of  body,  combined  with  courage  and  power  of  mind.  Verily 
is  this  feast  in  honor  of  the  most  beautiful,  charming,  handsome  maid 
ens  and  young  men — most  perfect  of  mortals.  It  only  requires  one 
glance  to  become  aware  of  the  fact  that  those  in  whose  honor  the  feast 
is  held  are  in  strength  of  mind  and  body,  and  comeliness  beyond  the 
normal  standard  of  mankind.  Besides  strength  and  beauty,  there  is 
some  other  more  subtle  superiority  which  is  readily  felt  and  seen,  but 
is  quite  indefinable.  How  this  high  standard  of  humanity  has  been 


56  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

attained  will  form  part  of  my  address.  To  include  the  same,  it  be 
comes  necessary  to  begin  at  the  beginning.  After  the  flat,  wide  earth 
had  for  a  period  of  time  been  completed,  the  sun  and  moon  risen  and 
set  time  and  again,  the  All-Wise  created  the  beasts  of  the  field,  the 
fowls  of  the  air  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea.  But  as  yet,  not  man.  Those 
creatures  could  feel,  hear  and  see.  But  as  yet  there  was  no  being  who 
could  behold  the  boundless  beauties  of  the  world  with  consciousness, 
reverence,  contemplative  admiration  and  thanks.  Next  as  his  crown 
ing  work,  the  All-Wise  created  man.  Man,  a  being  that  stands  erect, 
is  endowed  with  a  free  will  akin  to  his  maker. 

"In  a  warm  climate,  a  large  plastic  hollow  piece  of  clay  holding 
water,  ground  stone  and  mite  of  iron  dust  was  raised,  fashioned  by  a 
powerful  spiral  whirlwind  and  by  the  wish  of  the  creator — forth  stood  a 
man  in  his  most  perfect  form — the  noblest  work  of  the  All-Wise  creator. 

"The  beauty  all  around  and  above  him  delighted  his  eyes.  Luscious 
fruit  beckoned  him.  Soon  a  feeling  came  over  him  as  if  there  were 
something  missing,  although  he  knew  not  of  company  as  yet.  But  he 
seemed  to  divine  that  the  all-loving  Creator  had  not  intended  him 
to  roam  alone  on  this  beautiful  world.  And  so  it  was.  Soon  the  All- 
Wise,  to  man's  eternal  delight,  created  a  mate  for  him,  and  He  called 
them  one — one  pair.  We  may  note  that,  woman  being  created  later  than 
man,  woman  was  naturally  an  improvement  on  man,  made  of  a  finer 
clay  and  endowed  with  finer  sensibilities.  Obeying  the  agreeable  law 
to  'multiply,'  which  the  Creator  had  enclosed  within  them — mankind 
after  ages  wandered  to  different  parts  of  the  earth.  Thus  also  came 
our  forefathers  to  this,  our  beautiful  Greece.  An  ancient  philosophy 
teaches  us  that  man's  constituents  consist  of  the  elements  of  the  earth. 
That  clay  (flesh),  stone  (bone),  water  tinged  with  iron  (blood),  and  that 
of  the  circling  whirlwind  which  fashioned  man ;  that  man  is  made  of  ele 
ments  on  and  above  the  earth.  We  can  see  from  man's  thoughts  and 
actions  that  he  is  in  all  respects  like  the  weather  of  the  earth :  Serene 
and  calm  at  times,  more  turbulent  at  other  times,  and  when,  usually  at 
rare  intervals,  intense  anger  and  rage  hold  sway,  it  indicates  that  the 
storm  and  lightning  of  man's  nature  is  asserting  itself.  As  the  ele 
ments  are  ever  and  anon  battling  among  themselves,  so,  too,  within  us 
who  are  made  of  the  elements,  is  there  often  a  strife  for  supremacy 
between  the  body  and  mind.  At  times  it  is  well  to  let  the  body  dictate; 
at  other  times  it  is  better  for  the  mind  to  control  the  body.  Yes,  our 
dispositions  are  changeable  like  the  elements.  Tears,  rain,  hope,  rain 
bow,  serene,  calm,  storm,  internal  rage,  thunder,  lightning. 

"Once  upon  a  time,  the  saying  goes,  a  profound  philosopher  re 
marked  to  an  intensely  ignorant  person  that  the  first  man  was  made 
from  the  elements.  'Of  course,'  came  the  reply,  'there  was  nothing  else 
at  hand  out  of  which  he  could  have  been  made.'  Mankind,  not-having 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      57 

kept  up  the  necessary  efforts  to  maintain  man's  first  original  high  stand 
ard  of  beauty  and  strength,  after  many  ages  it  remained  for  Sparta  to 
awaken  to  the  fact  that  strong,  perfect  manhood  and  womanhood  is 
a  most  pleasing  sight  for  the  gods  to  behold.  It  also  dawned  upon  them 
that  a  nation  of  strong,  valiant  men  would  be  a  nation  of  powerful, 
courageous,  invincible  warriors. 

"In  time,  Athens  also  adopted  Sparta's  strenuous  health  laws.  Health 
officers  were  appointed,  who  examined  all  persons  at  birth  and  every 
seven  years  thereafter  until  death.  Records  are  kept  of  each  examina 
tion.  To  be  sick  is  considered  a  crime.  Sickness  indicates  that  one 
has  not  taken  the  necessary  care  of  himself.  But  there  are  exceptions, 
and  such  are  not  looked  upon  as  a  crime.  Preventions,  we  look  upon 
as  the  best  cure.  You,  fellow  Athenians,  and  three  generations  before 
you,  have  undergone  the  Spartans'  strenuous  health  training  and  rules : 
First,  mating  of  the  perfectly  healthy  is  only  allowable.  Secondly,  all 
males  and  females  are  required,  as  you  have  been,  to  follow  athletic 
exercises,  including  archery,  lance  throwing,  running,  swimming,  etc. 
Lastly,  but  not  least,  our  most  profound  philosophers  store  the  minds 
with  wisdom  which  in  addition  to  strength  and  beauty  of  form,  ex 
presses  itself  in  the  nobleness  of  eyes  and  countenance.  Also  has  it 
been  taught  for  the  last  three  generations  to  use  the  right  and  left 
hand  and  arm  equally  well.  Our  philosophers  have  found  that  nations 
who  will  allow  their  people  to  develop  only  the  right  or  left  arm  at 
will,  are  left  or  right  handed;  that  such  peoples'  body,  head,  brain,  are 
more  strongly  developed  on  the  side  used  the  most  than  on  the  other 
side. 

"Such  people,  it  has  been  observed,  look  at  things  from  a  one-sided 
standpoint  and  they  are  more  one-sided  in  their  views  and  judgments. 

"Our  race,  having  been  taught  to  use  and  to  train  the  right  and 
left  hands  equally,  has  developed  the  brain  equally  on  each  side,  thus 
the  well-balanced  brain  is  more  apt  to  look  at  both  sides  of  an  object 
or  of  an  argument  or  question,  and  therefore  better  able  to  inform 
itself  and  to  arrive  at  the  truth  of  things.  Also  if  one  hand  or  arm 
is  lost  in  battle,  the  other  is  not  so  helpless,  A  well  balanced  body, 
head  and  brain  is  better  able  to  judge  matters  aright  and  to  receive 
wisdom.  Your  high,  incomparable  standard  of  beauty,  strength  and 
wisdom  has  been  achieved  only  after  three  generations  of  thoughtful, 
healthy  matings  and  the  following  of  strenuous  Spartan  laws  of  health. 
Truly  can  we  see  before  us  that  the  noble  admonition,  'The  land  that 
bore  you,  O !  do  honor  to  her  in  your  breedings !'  has  not  fallen  on  insen 
sible  ears.  Thus  through  the  noble  wisdom  of  three  generation  of  your 
ancestors  and  through  the  favor  of  our  Gods  are  you  fit,  by  courage, 
strength,  beauty  and  wisdom,  to  grace  the  great  ship's  commercial  ex- 


58  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

pedition  by  your  participation,  to  the  welfare  and  honor  of  our— your  be 
loved  Athens.     (Applause.) 

"On  foreign  shores  they  can  not  help  but  think : 


"One  can  each  noble  face 
To  highborn   lineage  trace. 


"And  we  claim 


"Loveliest  of  our  human  race 
Your  lineage  to  our  gods  we  trace. 

"Noble  adventurers !  The  determination,  heroism  and  courage  which 
your  participation  in  the  grand  voyage  displays,  especially  by  our  young 
maidens,  is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  Upon  your  return,  triumphal 
arches  will  be  erected  and  garlands  and  flowers  will  ornament,  decorate 
and  perfume  the  line  of  march  of :  'The  Flower  of  Athens/ 

"I  can  promise  that : 

"A  book  of  silken  leaves 
Of  finest  texture  weaves 
Your  names  in  purest  gold 
To  future  years  shall  hold."  (Applause.) 

Hercultes  spoke  on  Power.  "Brave  adventurers !  Noble  Athenians ! 
I  have  just  been  asked  to  speak  on  Power.  I  may  begin  by  saying  that 
all  things  in  nature  are  moved  by  power.  The  stronger  power  controls 
the  weaker.  So  also  are  the  weaker  people  conquered  at  will  by  the 
stronger  nations.  I  shall  relate  a  story  which  I  believe  will  define 
power  better  than  anything  I  might  be  able  to  say.  At  least  it  is  always 
easier  to  tell  a  story  than  to  otherwise  speak  upon  a  subject  interest 
ingly. 

"Once  upon  a  time,  a  king  walked  alone  through  a  forest  alongside 
of  a  beautiful  stream.  The  birds  were  singing  gaily  and  all  things  in 
nature  smiled.  He  thought  to  himself,  'how  beautiful  are  all  things  and 
why  all  this  strife  and  battle  in  which  I  and  other  kings  are  so  con 
stantly  engaged  with  its  bloodshed  and  suffering  all  around?  Why  do  the 
strong  overpower  and  conquer  the  weak?  Surely  such  things  are  not 
well  in  the  sight  of  the  gods.  My  first  efforts,'  said  he  to  himself,  'shall 
be  to  call  the  attention  of  the  king's  chiefs  dwelling  in  the  lands  around 
to  the  cruel,  unnatural  condition  of  things.'  Seating  himself  on  a  con 
venient  log,  protected  from  the  view  of  birds,  squirrels  and  other  ani 
mals,  by  overhanging  bush  close  along  the  side  of  the  stream,  he  viewed 
the  quiet  scene  with  agreeable  composure.  'A  great  noble  idea  has 
flashed  through  my  brain,'  he  said  to  himself.  'I  am  inspired,  if,  as  the 


To  whom  does  the  world  belong  ? 

To  the  strong!    To  the  strong! 
Strong  in  body,  strong  in  mind, 
Strong  in  power  of  every  kind; 
To  such  does  the  world  belong: 

To  the  strong!    To  the  strong! 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     59 

prophet  told  me,  inspiration  is  the  quintessence  of  deep,  earnest  en 
thusiasm,  for  a  noble,  holy  cause.  Verily,  I  am  inspired.'  While  thus 
musing,  he  recalled  a  story  he  had  heard  in  his  youth,  of  death : 

"Death  was  looking  down  from  a  high  cloud  one  day, 
As  armies  were  fighting  in  battle  array. 
'Look,  look,  look,  what  is  it  here  I  see? 
Killing  each  other — they  cannot  wait  for  me.' 

"The  king  further  mused,  'Yes,  why  shall  we  kill  each  other,  when 
the  duration  of  life  is  short  enough  as  it  is?'  While  still  in  his  reverie 
his  attention  was  directed  to  a  spider's  lively  movements  in  a  web  sus 
pended  from  a  hazel  bush  overhanging  the  water's  edge.  Its  agitation 
was  caused  through  its  act  in  securing  a  fly  which  had  been  caught  in 
its  web,  Before  even  the  spider  had  devoured  the  fly,  a  frog  leaped  up 
and  snatched  the  spider  in  its  mouth.  The  frog  swam  with  an  evident 
feeling  of  satisfaction  when  a  large  fish  darted  towards  it,  caught  and 
devoured  the  frog. 

"  'Those  who  have  the  power,  devour,'  mused  the  king.  'Well,  each 
is  getting  his  punishment  in  kind,'  thought  he.  Sitting  very  quietly,  he 
saw  a  fish  otter  coming  along  the  river's  bank.  In  an  instant  it  dove 
under  the  water  and  brought  the  fish  which  had  devoured  the  frog  upon 
the  land. 

"Scarcely  was  the  otter  through  with  his  fishy  meal,  the  king  ob 
served  a  fox  walking  stealthily  towards  the  otter,  when  with  one  jump, 
it  fastened  its  teeth  in  the  otter,  carrying  it  away  under  a  bush  near  by. 
While  regaling  himself  with  his  meal  a  panther  appeared  under  the 
large  trees  of  the  forest  sniffing  the  air  as  it  halted  at  times.  This 
brought  the  king  himself  in  fear,  but  remaining  quiet,  the  panther 
walked  in  a  crouching  manner  to  the  place  where  the  fox  was  consum 
ing  his  meal  under  the  bush.  The  fox  ran  but  was  overtaken  by  the 
panther  and  carried  near  a  fallen  tree  in  close  distance  from  the  king. 
Presently  he  heard  a  great  whining  and  roaring  noise.  Arising,  he  in 
tended  to  flee,  as  he  knew  that  a  great  struggle  between  powerful  beasts 
was  taking  place,  when  all  at  once  a  panther  and  a  lion  rushed  forth 
from  the  bushes  in  a  death  struggle  for  supremacy.  Just  as  the  king 
was  hastening  away,  a  number  of  his  hunters,  vassals,  warriors  came 
along,  well  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  long  sharp  lances,  long  knives 
and  heavy  bronze  battle  axes.  The  king  led  them  so  as  to  surround  the 
place  of  the  struggling  animals.  The  hunters  made  a  desperate  on 
slaught,  killed  the  lion  near  whose  feet  lay  the  lifeless  panther. 

"The  king  returned  to  his  castle  in  a  somewhat  bewildered  mood. 
'This  day's  observations,'  he  said,  'in  the  forest,'  while  partaking  his 
evening  meal,  surrounded  by  several  of  his  most  trusted  knights,  'will 
add  power  and  supremacy  to  my  domain.  While  walking  and  sitting 


60  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

quietly  in  the  forest,  listening  to  the  singing  of  the  birds  and  viewing 
the  beautiful  surrounding  of  the  forest,  and  clear  flowing  stream,  I  felt 
as  if  I  was  called  upon  to  suffer  even  martyrdom  in  the  efforts  to  banish 
cruel  strife  and  war  in  our  own  and  adjoining  kingdoms.  But  my  quiet 
observations  have  this  day  taught  me  that  in  the  natural  plan  and  order 
of  things:  those  that  have  the  power,  devour.'  The  knights  stood  up, 
touching  their  wine  filled  drinking  horns,  shouting  in  a  chivalrous  voice : 
'Those  who  have  the  power,  devour !' 

"  'Certainly  the  most  valiant  king  will  always  devour  the  less  valiant 
and  less  powerful;  and  ever  thus  and  ever  thus  will  it  remain,'  re 
marked  one  of  the  knights. 

"  'Peace,'  remarked  one  of  the  others,  'can  only  be  secured  by  bloody 
force  and  power.' 

"The  king  commanded:  'Call  down  our  mild,  long  haired  bard  and 
God-gifted  singer  from  his  gable  room,  our  Euphonicus  with  his  lyre.' 

"Soon  Euphonicus,  with  his  lyre,  appeared  before  the  king. 

"  'Mild,  long  haired,  God-gifted  singer,'  spoke  the  king.  'You,  of  late, 
Bhow  strong  leanings  in  favor  of  songs  of  kindness,  brotherhood  and 
songs  of  peace.  Now !'  said  the  king  in  a  strong  commanding  tone,  'per 
ish  the  thought  of  such  songs !  Never  again  let  me  hear  you  sing  such 
songs.  Henceforth  attune  your  lyre,  your  hand,  your  heart,  your  ear, 
your  mind  and  your  voice,  so  that  their  combined  strength  and  earnest 
ness  will  not  fail  to  inspire  lofty  ideas  of  war,  victory  and  conquest  in 
my  chiefs  and  warriors.  Henceforth,  sing  only  of  heroes,  of  victory  and 
conquest.  Sing  only  of  the  necessity  of  war  and  the  noble  courage  of 
warriors.  God-gifted  minstrel!'  he  continued,  'invoke  Ares  (Mars), 
the  God  of  War,  to  inspire  you  with  a  fearless  warlike  spirit,  so  that 
you  can  loudly,  like  the  roll  of  distant  thunder,  stir  the  hearts  and  minds 
of  all  my  chieftains,  so  that  they  will  feel  eager  to  emulate  the  deeds  of 
which  you  so  inspiringly  sing.  To  again  sing  songs  of  love,  kindness, 
brotherhood  and  peace  will  be  stamped  as  a  traitorous  act  against  my 
cause.  Remember  that  which  is  the  burden  of  all  our  thoughts,  of  all 
our  actions,  of  all  our  efforts,  also  shall  be  the  burden  of  your  lays. 
Remember,  "those  who  have  the  power,  devour." 

"  'Now,  fearless  Minstrel,'  he  said,  'sing  such  a  one  of  your  songs  of 
long  ago.' 

"The  tall,  slim  bard,  with  an  earnest  look,  attuned  his  lyre,  stroked 
his  long  flaxen  locks  to  one  side  and  then  looking  upwards,  sang  with  a 
powerful,  deep,  earnest,  melodious  voice  one  of  his  most  stirring  of  war 
songs  entitled  'The  Bravest  of  the  Brave.' 

"He  seemed  to  permeate  the  air  with  a  war  spirit,  even  beyond  the 
king's  expectations.  The  king's  eyes  danced  and  the  chiefs  around  him 
took  on  a  more  noble,  haughty,  determined,  death-defying  bearing.  Even 
before  the  last  strains  had  died  away,  there  prevailed  a  general  appear- 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      61 

ance  of  eagerness  and  readiness  for  battle  to  achieve  renown,  to  subdue, 
to  conquer,  surrounding  kings,  enemies. 

"The  king  said:  'Heroic,  God-gifted  bard!  I  crown  you  with  this 
hastily  woven  oaken  wreath,  thus  indicating  that  your  melodious  lays 
have  power  to  stir  us  to  noble  deeds.' 

"The  king  and  knights  retired  for  the  night,  during  the  greater  part 
of  which  the  king  lay  restless,  pondering  over  the  observations  experi 
enced  during  the  day,  coming  only  to  one  and  the  same  conclusion — the 
necessity  of  power  for  self-preservation.  After  his  restless  deliberation 
he  arose  at  early  dawn  and  after  the  first  morning's  meal,  he  ordered 
the  tocsin  to  be  rung  in  the  castle  tower,  to  call  in  all  his  vassals  and 
knights,  to  whom  he  related  his  observations  and  conclusions,  saying, 
'I  want  to  rely  upon  you  to  strike  first,  so  as  not  to  delay  until  some  of 
our  neighboring  kings  are  in  a  mood  to  strike  and  conquer  us. 

"  'I  ask  you,  my  brave  warriors,  to  take  an  oath  to  battle  for  my 
kingdom  until  its  boundaries  shall  extend  as  far  as  the  west  is  from 
the  east.' 

"After  due  preparation,  the  king  led  his  warriors  to  conquer  adjoin 
ing  kingdoms.  At  his  death  he  was  ruler  of  a  vast  empire. 

"This  story,  my  noble  Athenians,"  said  Hercultes,  upon  concluding 
his  address,  "illustrates  the  desirability  and  necessity  of  Power.  The 
first  unit  of  power  is  the  individual ;  many  individuals  make  a  nation. 
Our  strenuous  Athenian  training  which  our  youths  and  maidens  are  re 
quired  to  follow  and  undergo,  has  brought  our  city  up  to  such  a  plane 
that  other  cities  must  look  up  to.  I  only  wish  to  add  that  if  I  were 
asked  to  answer  the  question:  'To  whom  does  the  world  belong?'  I 
should  say : 

"To  whom  does  the  world  belong? 
To  the  Strong !    To  the  Strong  ! 
To  the  strong  in  muscle,  strong  in  mind; 
To  the  strong  in  power  of  every  kind ; 
To  such,  does  the  world  belong."  (Applause.) 

Liostes,  the  orator  who  spoke  on  "Storm,  Lightning,  Wind  and  Wave," 
incidentally  remarked  that  in  his  opinion,  the  large  number  of  charming 
young  maidens  that  intended  to  accompany  the  voyage  could  not  have 
fully  realized  the  dangers  such  an  adventure  invites.  "I  admire  you  all," 
said  he,  looking  in  various  directions  at  the  young  maidens,  "for  the 
courageous  and  daring  spirit  you  have  displayed;  but,  allow  me  to 
whisper,  not  for  your  judgment.  It  should  be  remembered  that  even  if 
the  ship  is  large,  the  ocean's  mouth  is  larger  still  and  could  easily  swal 
low  all  that  floats  upon  it.  But  you  are  fully  excusable,  as  I  can  readily 
imagine  that  without  much  forethought,  you  enlisted  yourselves  in  the 
enterprise  in  a  moment  of  impulse  and  enthusiasm  and  patriotism  for 


62  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

your  native  Athens.  I  would  suggest  that  our  precious  beautiful  maidens 
should  be  allowed  an  extra  day  or  several  days  for  reconsidering  their 
willingness  to  join  the  ship  Aeolus  on  its  perilous  voyage. 

"Voyagers,  you  all  know  Thomostios,  he  who  so  often  we  see  walk- 
Ing  along  our  streets  with  face  cast  down,  as  if  in  sadness.  Thomostios 
is  gifted  by  the  gods  with  the  faculty  of  receiving  information  of  great 
events  and  disasters  upon  the  very  time  they  happen,  regardless  of  how 
far  distant  the  event  may  have  taken  place.  He  says  that  all  events 
terminate  with  a  feeling.  A  feeling  of  the  event  passes  to  him  like  a 
wave,  through  and  over  the  land  and  sea.  Not  only  great,  but  also  small, 
trivial  events  at  times  pass  as  a  feeling  wave  to  him.  In  the  event  of 
the  Aeolus  meeting  disaster,  he  says  he  can  know  the  same  immediately 
after  it  has  taken  place.  He  says  he  is  certain  that  he  would  feel  such 
an  event,  if  it  should  take  place,  immediately ;  as  he  will  make  more  than 
usual  effort  to  be  in  a  passive  state,  so  as  to  be  open  to  receive  a  wave- 
event,  if  ever  disaster  should  befall  your  grand  ship  Aeolus." 

These  remarks  were  only  incidentally  thrown  into  his  elaborate  ora 
tion  on  "Storm,  Lightning,  Wind,  and  Waves." 

During  the  time  in  which  the  sweet  sound  of  harp,  song  and  tim 
brel  were  regaling  the  assemblage  (music  following  each  oration)  several 
of  the  young  maidens  passed  around  to  all  the  other  young  maidens  re 
ferred  to  by  Liostes,  when  it  was  found  to  be  the  unanimous  demand 
that  Liostes'  remarks  in  reference  to  a  lack  of  realization  by  them  of  the 
dangers  connected  with  such  a  voyage  as  contemplated  by  the  Aeolus 
should  be  promptly  responded  to  by  one  of  their  number. 

The  young  maidens  hastily  decided  that  a  blonde,  not  a  brunette, 
should  respond  to  Liostes'  inconsiderate  remarks ;  for  the  reason  that  in 
the  general  prevailing  opinion,  blondes  were  supposed  to  be  more  timid 
and  less  daring  than  brunettes. 

Fair  Orientes,  a  young  maiden  228  moons  of  age,  was  selected  to 
reply.  She  belonged  to  the  stately  charming  blondes  accompanying  the 
expedition.  Orientes  was  gowned  in  sea-blue  silk,  adorned  with 
sparkling  jewels,  in  hair,  ears,  necklace  and  bracelets.  She  arose,  re- 
spondingly  as  follows : 

"Fellow  Athenians  and  fellow  voyagers  all !  and  Liostes,  in  par 
ticular  !  By  unanimous  demand  of  those  whom  our  famed  orator  opines 
have  allowed  themselves  to  be  carried  away  from  their  better  judgment 
by  dearth  of  forethought,  and  also  sentiment  and  impulse,  to  which  we 
are  thought  to  be  especially  prone,  we  hasten  to  take  this  immediate 
opportunity  to  make  a  prompt  reply. 

"The  oration  on  'Wind,  Wave,  Storm  and  Lightning'  was  a  rare  and 
highly  entertaining  treat  indeed. 

"The  orator  has,  by  his  famed  power  of  eloquence,  portrayed  in  a 
more  realistic  manner  than  artist  could  on  canvas,  the  sighing  and  the 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     63 

whirling  and  the  whispering  of  the  wind;  the  splashing  and  the  slash 
ing  and  the  dashing  of  the  waves;  the  rising  and  the  falling  and  the 
swaying  of  a  ship  at  sea ;  and  the  storm  in  its  fury  and  power,  forcing 
rolling  white  crested  mountains  of  water,  engulfing  ships  in  the  valleys 
between;  how,  when  under  the  cover  of  Nox,  in  pitchy,  dark,  stormy 
nights,  Poseidon  and  Aeolus  combine  in  their  fiercest  fury,  compelling 
ships  to  abandon  all  courses,  excepting  running  before  the  storm,  under 
bare  poles,  or  to  submit  to  an  inevitable  destruction ;  how  the  creaking 
of  the  yards,  the  hard  incessant  clapping  and  rapping  of  the  shrouds 
and  tackle  against  the  masts  and  stays  with  the  howling,  roaring  and 
whistling  of  the  storm  amongst  the  rigging,  all  of  a  sudden  at  short  in 
tervals,  Vulcan  darts  out  his  zigzag,  glaring  flashes  of  lightning,  illumi 
nating  the  turbulent  scene  in  all  its  brilliancy,  followed  by  peal  upon 
peal  of  threatening,  rumbling  thunder — all  pitchy  darkness  again.  The 
ship  rising  and  falling  with  the  surging,  hissing  and  swishing  majestic 
sea  at  its  sides,  saying  to  the  ship  almost  as  plain  as  words :  'You  must 
weather  this  or  sink  to  the  silent  depths  below.' 

"It  is  not  necessary  for  me,"  here  continued  Orientes,  "to  state  that 
I  have  attempted  to  rehearse  any  part  of  the  oration,  as  delivered  by  the 
orator;  that  would  be  far  beyond  our  power  of  speech.  But  we  have 
only  reverted  to  the  same  as  an  assurance  that  we  have  listened  atten 
tively  to  the  inimitable  oration  which  so  vividly  brought  before  our  eyes 
and  ears  the  dangers  by  which  our  great  ship  Aeolus  will  be  at  times 
surrounded. 

"Now  in  reply  to  the  orator  we  wish  to  emphasize  that  the  perils 
which  he  has  so  graphically  depicted  were  well  known  to  all  of  us 
maidens  and  were  calmly  considered  before  we  volunteered  t6  participate 
in  the  expedition.  Not  only  those  perils,  but  we  are  also  fully  conscious 
of  the  fact  that  our  ship  can  not  escape  being  attacked  by  sea  rovers 
and  pirates. 

"While  learning  the  art  of  swimming,  which  forms  a  part  of  the  cur 
riculum  of  the  gymnasium  of  which  we  all  are  graduates,  we  had  ample 
opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  the  calms,  storms  and  wiles  of 
Poseidon's  restless  liquid  blue.  In  early  childhood  we  gamboled  along 
pebbly  shores  and  often  watched  the  dark,  lightning-freighted  storm 
clouds  lower,  changing  its  clear,  calm  surface  into  an  uproarious,  rest 
less,  raging,  ocean  storm.  We  delighted  to  swim  out  upon  the  swaying 
sea  or  dive  beneath  and  through  the  graceful  arching  billows.  Poseidon's 
realm  is  a  well-known  loving  acquaintance  of  ours,  allowing  us  to  play 
fully  run  our  hands  through  his  soft,  clear  white  foaming  mane.  But 
aside  from  all  observations,  the  committee,  including  Captain  Arteus, 
called  each  intended  voyager's  attention  to  all  the  perils  referred  to  be 
fore  allowing  the  scribes  to  add  the  names  on  the  parchment  lists.  Still 
there  is  one  more  test  through  which  all  who  volunteered  to  accompany 


64  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

the  expedition  must  go;  and  that  is  the  tear  test.  During  the  last 
moments  before  the  departure  of  the  ship,  inspectors  will  pass  around 
to  observe  whether  any  eyes  are  bedimmed  with  tears.  If  a  single  tear 
is  detected,  it  will  be  taken  as  an  indication  of  lack  of  heart  and  deter 
mination.  Such  a  one  will  be  considered  as  an  undesirable,  unfit  and 
liable  to  be  a  hindrance  instead  of  an  aid  towards  a  successful  journey, 
and  will  have  to  step  ashore.  One  of  our  young  men  voyagers,"  contin 
ued  Orientes,  "asked  one  of  my  girl  friends:  'Don't  you  think  you 
will  be  frightened  out  upon  the  rolling  mountains  of  water?'  And  she 
answered  him: 

"  'Wherever  the  storm  drives  the  ship,  I  will  be  driven ; 

"  'Where  the  ship  engulfs  you,  I  will  be  engulfed ; 

"  'Wherever  the  ship  lands,  I  will  land ; 

"  'Wherever  the  ship  sails  to,  I  will  sail ; 

"  'If  you  should  sail  to  the  end  of  the  world,  I  would  sail  to  the  end ; 

"  'Wheresoever  the  ship  carries  you,  I  will  be  carried. 

"  'Whatever  fate  befalls  the-  ship  and  you,  such  shall  also  be  my 
fate.' 

"  'And  holding  the  privilege  of  accompanying  the  same,  I  would  not 
remain  behind  for  all  the  world." 

"That  was  her  answer  to  her  young  gentleman  friend  and  he  seemed 
visibly  proud  and  happy.  And  it  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  admit 
that  she  really  spoke  for  us  all.  The  new  peoples  and  strange  shores 
and  lands  we  shall  see  will  be  a  study  and  delight  to  our  eyes.  I  believe 
now  that  the  orator  who  was  so  solicitous  for  our  safety  will  not  deem 
it  necessary  to  allow  us  extra  time  in  order  to  decide  whether  to  join 
the  expedition  or  not." 

Applause  upon  applause  greeted  Orientes  as  she  resumed  her 
seat.  A  large  number  of  gentlemen  and  gray-bearded  bards,  orators, 
philosophers  and  poets  crowded  around  her,  offering  their  respect  and 
congratulations  upon  the  unexpected  delivery  of  the  response.  The 
young  men  waved  green  pine  twigs  above  their  heads,  indicating  that  she 
was  entitled  to  special  honor.  Although  she  was  not  master  of  the  art 
of  oratory  in  some  respects,  she  outshone  and  was  a  far  more  pleasing 
speaker  than  some  of  the  famed  orators.  Her  charming  personality, 
surrounded,  as  it  were,  by  an  air  of  duty  which  she  was  called  upon  to 
perform,  her  large  kind  blue  eyes,  courageous  through  innocence,  coupled 
with  a  full  sweet  voice,  presented  a  graceful  picture  to  look  upon  and  an 
exquisite  pleasure  to  listen  to. 

After  the  music  following  subsided,  Liostes  arose  and  begged  pardon 
for  arising  a  second  time  in  order  to  make  a  very  few  further  remarks. 

"There  are  many,"  he  continued,  "many  endless  varieties  of  courage. 
Not  one  individual  has  ever  displayed  all  kinds  of  courage  required 
under  the  varying  circumstances  by  which  he  often  finds  himself  con- 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     65 

fronted.  All  true  real  courage  is  noble  and  is  admired  by  the  Gods. 
The  greatest  heroes — heroes  who  lead  the  way  of  the  spearsmen  and 
archers  into  the  bloodiest  battles,  or  advance  against  the  powerful  cata 
pult  in  the  face  of  almost  certain  death,  are  often  found  to  lack  the  cour 
age  to  act  manly  in  the  common  affairs  of  life.  The  fact  that  our 
precious  young  maidens  have  the  necessary  courage  and  daring  to  be 
come  useful  members  of  the  Aeolus  adventure  has  been  plainly  and  con 
vincingly  set  forth  by  Orientes  in  a  charming  way,  wholly  her  own. 
(Applause.)  Now  it  is  for  me  to  gather  courage.  It  was  Homer,  I  believe, 
who  said:  'In  some  instances  it  requires  courage  of  no  mean  order  to 
admit  a  mistake.'  But  thanks  to  Pallas  Athene,  I  have  the  courage  to 
admit  that  I  was  mistaken  in  regard  to  the  courage  of  the  lovely  young 
maidens  to  whom  I,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  uninf ormedly  referred  to.  I 
humbly  beg  pardon  for  my  immature  opinion  expressed,  and  emphasize 
the  fact  that  I  have  full  faith  in  the  courage  and  the  useful  part  the 
maidens  will  perform  in  making  the  great  commercial  adventure  possible 
of  success.  And  I  also  wish  to  add  that  I  stand  in  no  fear  that  all  of 
the  young  maidens  will  pass  the  tear  test  beyond  all  doubt.  (Applause.) 
And  I  further  hope  that  the  grand  expedition  will  accomplish  its  mis 
sion,  will  return  safely  to  our  fair  Athens  and  that  the  same  will  remain 
in  the  remembrance  of  all  its  voyagers  as  having  been  a  grand  useful 
pleasure  excursion."  (Applause.) 

Neonthos,  speaking  on  the  building  of  the  Aeolus  said  among 
other  things :  "The  wonderful  ship  could  never  have  been  completed 
without  the  favorable  assistance  of  the  Gods,  who  imbued  the  master 
builder  and  his  advisers  and  assistants  with  extraordinary  ingenuity  and 
skill.  The  Aeolus  is  built  on  beautiful  lines,  the  eye  resting  admiringly 
upon  its  graceful  proportions.  It  is  known  to  me  that  the  master  builder 
of  the  Aeolus,  from  youth  up,  interested  himself  in  the  accounts  heard 
of  the  ships  built  by  a  noted  shipbuilder  of  Corinth.  Our  honored  master 
has,  however,  far  overreached  the  efforts  of  said  shipbuilder,  who  could 
not  even  have  dreamed  of  the  possibility  of  constructing  such  a  monster 
ship  as  the  Aeolus.  The  Aeolus  is  beyond  all  comparison  with  any  other 
ship  ever  built.  Its  upper  deck  is  spacious  enough  to  hold  several  of  the 
largest  galleys  and  triremes  that  ever  floated  on  the  water.  All  ships, 
galleys  and  triremes  are  impelled  by  strong  oarsmen,  some  few  assisted 
by  small  sails.  Some  of  our  triremes  are  manned  by  over  one  hundred 
oarsmen.  'One  man,  one  oar,'  is  a  well  known  saying  among  seafarers. 

"But  the  wonderful  Aeolus  is  a  new  and  entirely  different  ship.  It  is 
named  Aeolus  in  honor  of  the  God  of  the  Winds,  because  it  is  by  his 
power  pressing  against  its  many  spacious  sails  that  it  is  impelled  with 
great  speed  over  the  watery  fields  of  Poseidon  (Neptune).  It  is  not  ven 
turesome  to  predict  that  never  again  will  it  be  possible  to  construct  a 
ship  of  such  large,  extraordinary,  wonderful  proportions.  The  present 


66  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

period  of  peace,  not  being  harassed  by  assaults  from  without,  nor  by 
dissension  from  within,  allowed  what  otherwise  would  have  been  im 
possible.  The  Aeolus  was  completed  under  extraordinary  conditions, 
namely  :  an  enthusiastic  combination  of  liberalities ;  hundreds  who  fur 
nished  the  endless  quantities  of  various  woods;  hundreds  who  labored 
and  supplied  the  many  wonderful  sails ;  hundreds  who  labored  and  sup 
plied  the  ropes,  and  other  materials,  and  hundreds  of  men  and  women, 
youths  and  maidens,  who  all  willingly  united  in  the  construction  of 
things  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the  monster  ship. 

"It  was  a  labor  agreeable  to  the  Gods  and  a  work  of  love  in  which 
many  hundreds  eagerly,  willingly,  untiringly  united  towards  accomplish 
ing  a  common  object.  Such  a  combination  of  wisdom,  power,  liberality 
and  skill,  favored  by  the  Gods  and  surrounded  by  an  interval  of  peace," 
said  Neonthos,  "can,  and  never  will  again  take  place." 

Neonthos  then  read  the  names  from  a  long  scroll  of  all  who  had 
in  any  way  assisted  in  the  grand  enterprise,  beginning  with  Ithobal,  the 
Phoenician. 

The  names  of  the  maidens  who  spun  and  wove  the  spacious  sails  were 
allotted  a  specially  decorated  place  on  the  long  papyrus  scroll,  by  the 
scribes. 

Seaortes,  the  builder  of  the  Aeolus,  upon  being  asked  to  speak,  de 
clined  to  follow  the  universal  demand,  but  after  long  urging,  arose  and 
said: 

"If  I  had  known  that  I  should  be  called  upon  to  speak  at  a  banquet, 
I  would  not  have  undertaken  to  build  the  ship,  but  as  I  am  on  my  feet, 
I  will  only  say  that  I  feel  that  I  really  did  not  build  the  ship.  I  was 
taught,  step  by  step,  aided  step  by  step,  by  the  Gods.  Even  in  the  night 
the  Gods  imparted  advice  which  I  often  at  midnight  sketched  on  parch 
ment.  The  first  thing  I  did,  was  to  invoke  the  assistance  of  the  Gods, 
praying : 

Pray,  gods  come  and  crowd  around  me, 

Each  and   every   one; 
Lend  your  wisdom,  pray,  unto  me, 

Till  my  task  is  done. 

"They  assisted  me  from  keel  to  mast,  step  by  step,  and  thus  by  the 
aid  of  the  Gods,  stands  completed,  the  ship  Aeolus"  (Great  applause.} 

Irmes  was  delegated  to  place  a  laurel  wreath  upon  his  head 
with  the  thanks  of  all  the  voyagers,  for  his  hazardous  task  so  nobly  ac 
complished. 

Strophonius,  one  of  the  principal  barterers  and  tradesmen  of  Athens, 
who  spoke  on  "Athenian  Trade,"  said  in  part : 

"I  have  traveled  extensively  in  times  of  peace,  and  even  in  times  of 
war,  from  one  Hellenic  city  to  another,  plying  my  vocation  as  a  barterer, 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     67 

trader.  During  these  many  moons,  I  have  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of 
the  various  routes  of  trade  and  of  the  distance  from  one  city  to  another, 
and  also  of  the  trade  characteristics  of  our  Hellenic  people.  In  my  first 
efforts,  I  traveled  on  foot,  laden  with  small  bundles  of  merchandise. 
Later  I  advised  two  of  my  most  trusted  friends  to  join  my  enterprise  and 
we  journeyed  with  two  strong  teams,  laden  with  merchandise  of  various 
kinds.  Olives  and  olive  oil  were  among  the  principal  commodities  of  our 
first  journeys.  We  found  the  possibilities  of  distributing  and  exchanging 
wares  of  various  kinds  were  far  greater  than  was  commonly  supposed. 
The  life  of  a  traveling  tradesman  is  constantly  in  danger  from  attack 
by  robbers.  When  I  take  a  retrospective  view  of  my  past  adventurous 
vocation,  I  am  surprised  at  the  possibility  of  having  escaped  with  my 
life  thus  far.  In  one  of  my  journeys,  singly,  on  foot,  on  the  way  to 
Decclia,  I  was  captured  by  a  band  of  robbers,  who  suddenly  issued  forth 
from  a  dense  forest  at  a  place  about  forty  stadia  from  my  destination. 
They  were  well  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  daggers  and  war  clubs. 
One  of  the  robbers  raised  his  long,  sharp,  bronze  war  club  above  my 
head  in  the  act  of  striking,  but  the  leader  waved  his  hand  and  said  to 
me:  'Come,  carry  the  bundles,  and  follow  the  foremost  leader.'  After 
carrying  my  burden  over  a  wearisome,  untrodden  path  into  the  dense 
forest,  we  soon  arrived  in  a  small  rock-bound  dell,  in  the  rocks  of  which 
was  a  deep  cave.  I  was  ordered  to  lay  down  my  bundles  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  cave's  entrance,  whereupon  they  securely  bound  my  legs, 
hands,  feet  and  wrists  with  strong,  sinewy  cords;  after  which  they  set 
me  in  a  comparatively  comfortable  position  against  a  large  tree. 

"I  understood  well  enough  that  they  only  intended  to  allow  me  to 
live  long  enough  to  answer  their  questions  in  regard  to  the  kinds  and 
uses  of  the  merchandise.  I  had  among  my  merchandise  a  skin  flask  full 
of  our  genuine,  pure,  strong  Grecian  wine,  for  which  I  had  an  order  from 
a  sickly,  wealthy  citizen  of  Decclia.  I  informed  them  of  the  value  and 
uses  of  the  various  wares,  as  the  robbers  took  them  out  of  my  bundles. 
I  laid  great  stress  upon  the  rare  quality  of  the  skin  flask  full  of  Grecian 
wine,  adding  that  it  had  been  ordered  by  a  noble  citizen  of  Decclia.  They 
carried  the  merchandise  a  distance  from  me  and  soon  began  filling  their 
drinking  horns  with  the  delicious  wine.  I  expected,  from  the  repeated 
large  quantities  they  gulped  down,  that  they  would  soon  become  hilarious 
and  would  in  their  ghoulish  glee,  pounce  down  upon  me  with  spears  and 
bronze  axes.  One  of  the  brigands  took  up  his  bow  and  shot  an  arrow 
through  my  ear,  the  point  of  the  arrow  imbedding  itself  firmly  in  the 
tree.  I  was  thus  held  to  the  tree  by  the  arrow.  They  laughed  at  my  sad 
plight  and  drank  and  drank  more  wine. 

"Later  on,  I  noticed  that  two  of  the  robbers  were  lying  asleep  near 
the  spread  of  the  merchandise.  The  third  strode  towards  me  with  a 
mouth  full  of  mumbling  oaths,  when  he  tripped  up  by  an  extending  root 


68  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

or  vine.  He  did  not  make  much  of  an  effort  to  rise,  but  was,  I  noticed, 
like  his  colleagues  in  crime,  beastly  and  helplessly  drunk.  I  lost  no  time 
in  moving  my  head,  regardless  of  pain,  so  as  to  extricate  myself  from  the 
arrow  which  held  me  against  the  large  tree.  I  succeeded  in  breaking  the 
large  arrow,  which  was  dripping  with  blood ;  after  which  I  made  strenu 
ous  efforts  to  move  myself  to  a  large  sharp-cornered  bowlder  lying  near 
by,  against  which  I  sawed  the  cords  holding  my  wrists.  It  was  then 
an  easy  matter  to  unfasten  all  the  other  cords.  Upon  rising,  I  saw 
plainly  that  they  were  all  overcome  from  the  effects  of  the  wine.  At  first 
I  entertained  the  foolhardy  idea  of  trying  to  regain  some  of  my  valuable 
jewels.  But  upon  walking  towards  the  goods,  one  of  the  robbers  arose 
with  threatening  oaths,  at  the  same  time  stumbling  towards  me  with  his 
bronze  war  club.  I  instantly  changed  my  mind  and  made  my  escape 
with  the  most  possible  speed.  I  lost  all  my  wares,  but  luckily,  thanks  to 
our  delicious  Greek  wine,  saved  my  life  to  a  certainty,  upon  that  trying, 
painful  occasion. 

"Our  pure  Greek  wine,  as  is  well  known,  gives  tone  and  strength  to 
the  weak,  but  if  taken  in  repeated  hornfuls,  will  punish  its  abusers,  even 
the  strongest,  by  robbing  them  of  their  clear  senses  and  their  strength. 

"This  was  only  one  of  the  numerous  adventures  I  encountered  as  a 
trader.  It  would  require  too  much  time  to  rehearse  others  of  my  adven 
tures,  upon  such  an  occasion  as  this.  I  am  still  engaged  with  my  col 
leagues  in  the  same  trading  routes  and  am  not  guaranteed  against  at 
tacks  at  any  time.  We  always  have  a  small  scale  to  weigh  gold  or  silver, 
stamped  or  unstamped,  and  also  have  acids  to  test  their  genuineness.  We 
find  it  much  easier  to  barter,  exchange  one  ware  for  another ;  but  as  we 
are  liable  to  be  overloaded  on  our  return  journey,  we  prefer  gold  or 
silver  for  our  wares,  which  we  are  obtaining  to  a  greater  extent  than 
formerly. 

"Some  of  the  wares  exchanged  by  barterers  in  seaport  cities,  at  times 
we  have  conveyed  to  our  seaport  Phalerum  in  galleys  which  are  moved 
by  oarsmen,  some  of  them  assisted  by  small  lateen  sails. 

"I  listened  attentively  to  the  discourse  on  commerce  held  by 
Ithobal,  the  experienced  Phoenician  merchant,  who  sojourned  here  in 
Athens,  a  part  of  his  period  of  ostracism,  ordered  by  the  king  of  Tyre. 
It  would  have  been  well  if  Ithobal,  the  Phoenician  merchant,  could  have 
remained  here  in  Athens  until  the  large  ship  was  completed.  I  believe 
his  glowing  description  of  Commerce  on  the  distant  seas  with  large 
ships,  such  as  the  Phoenician  ships  he  described,  is  within  the  realm 
of  possibilities.  I  am  not  acquainted  with  commerce  on  the  high  seas ; 
but  I  suppose  there  are  certain  similarities  to  that  of  the  land.  Where 
the  intercourse  of  trade  is  kept  up,  journeys  made  with  a  certain  de 
gree  of  regularity,  the  variety  of  wares  obtained,  or  offered  in  exchange 
for  gold  or  silver,  increases  to  an  unexpected  degree. 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      69 

"I  would  have  expected  that  instead  of  building  such  a  wonderful 
large  ship  as  the  Aeolus  on  the  start,  the  committee  would  have  rather 
advocated  the  building  of  several  smaller  ships,  to  feel  the  way,  so  to 
speak. 

"There  is  one  advice  that  I  may  perhaps  give  to  the  great  commer 
cial  undertaking,  namely :  that  at  all  ports  where  the  ship  may  land,  it 
is  almost  a  necessary  policy  to  present  gifts  to  the  rulers  and  most  prom 
inent  citizens  of  such  places.  It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that:  A  gift 
turneth  the  heart  towards  the  giver. 

"In  speaking  of  gifts,  we  have  heard  it  said,  'Beware  of  the  gift-bear 
ing  Greeks.'  Especially  is  this  saying  used  by  some  peoples  in  remem 
brance  of  the  wooden  horse  which  was  offered  as  a  gift  by  the  Greeks 
to  the  Trojans.  In  our  travels  on  foot,  as  barterers,  we  invariably  find, 
in  order  to  be  allowed  to  enter  the  gates  of  the  cities,  that  a  large  num 
ber  of  presents  must  be  given  to  the  ruler  and  prominent  citizens.  This, 
I  understand,  is  also  done  by  the  Phoenicians  at  their  various  landings. 
The  Phoenicians  are  not  only  able  seafarers,  but  are  also  exceedingly 
shrewd  traffickers,  generally  obtaining  the  best  of  a  bargain.  Phoenician 
example  and  advice  in  regard  to  commerce  must  certainly  be  considered 
of  unquestionable  value.  In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  say  I  wish  the  voy 
agers  a  prosperous  voyage  and  a  happy  return."  (Applause.) 

After  the  priest  of  Zeus  had  refilled  the  seven  tripods  standing  on 
the  boards  with  new  incense,  the  smoke  filling  the  air  with  sweet  per 
fume,  and  after  an  acorn  had  been  presented  to  each  person  present  as 
a  remembrance  of  the  festival,  Mentoratus,  speaking  on :  "In  Search  of 
the  Golden  Fleece,"  said  in  part : 

"One  of  the  most  courageous  expeditions  undertaken  by  our  Hellenic 
people  was  the  Argonautic  expedition  to  Colchis  in  search  of  the  Golden 
Fleece.  Pelius,  who  had  usurped  the  throne  of  lolcus  in  Thessaly,  had 
promised  to  abdicate  in  favor  of  Jason,  son  and  rightful  heir  of  King 
Aeson,  if  he  could  perform  some  act  of  heroism  worthy  of  renown.  As  a 
suitable  adventure  of  the  kind,  Pelius  proposed  that  Jason  should  fetch 
the  Golden  Fleece  from  Colchis. 

"Jason  built  the  ship  Argo,  the  largest  ship  built  up  to  that  time; 
and  after  it  was  completed,  he  sent  messengers  throughout  Greece  to 
invite  the  foremost  heroes  of  Greece  to  join  in  his  enterprise.  You  have 
all  heard  in  song  and  story,  of  the  principal  heroes  who  accompanied 
Jason,  all  of  whom  were  powerful  oarsmen  and  men  of  undaunted  cour 
age.  The  expedition  proved  a  success.  What  obstacles  Jason  had  to 
overcome  before  he  could  crown  himself  King  of  lolcos  is  well  known  to 
you  all  and  need  not  be  rehearsed  by  me.  The  ship  Argo  was  impelled 
principally  by  strong  oarsmen,  at  times,  when  the  wind  was  favorable, 
assisted  by  small  lateen  sails.  The  heroes  who  took  part  in  the  adven 
ture  were  certainly  entitled  to  the  praise  bestowed  upon  them. 


70  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"But,  drawing  a  comparison  between  that  noted  expedition  and  the 
present  enterprise  of  our  grand  ship  Aeolus,  what  a  vast  difference  in 
the  sizes  of  the  two  ships,  the  number  of  persons  accompanying  them, 
and  the  object  of  the  voyage.  Jason's  venture  was  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  crown.  Our  Aeolus'  expedition  is  for  the  furthering  of  the 
prosperity  and  greatness  of  our  native  Athens  and,  incidentally  also,  our 
Hellenic  land. 

"The  Argo  was  propelled  principally  by  oarsmen ;  and  its  size,  large 
for  its  day,  was  such  that  a  number  of  Argos  could  be  placed  inside  the 
spacious  hulk  of  our  Aeolus.  If  Jason,  Heracles,  Castor  and  Pollux  and 
Theseus  and  the  rest  of  Jason's  companions  who  sailed  with  the  Argo 
should  arise  from  the  shades  below  and  behold  our  great  ship  Aeolus 
lying  at  the  wharf  at  our  seaport  Phalerum,  they  would  scarcely  believe 
their  eyes  and  would  think  it  a  phantom  ship.  They  would  be  over 
whelmed  and  amazed  at  its  grand  proportions. 

"Like  the  praises  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  celebrated  Argonautic 
adventures  which  have  resounded  throughout  Greece  for  centuries,  so 
too,  in  like  manner  we  expect,  if  you  return  successfully,  will  the  praises 
of  all  those  accompanying  the  commercial  adventures  of  the  Aeolus  be 
sounded  throughout  Greece  for  all  time  to  come. 

"On  the  other  hand,  to  the  unsuccessful,  praises  we  know  are  never 
sung.  But  I  venture  to  predict  that  the  grand  commercial  venture  will 
be  successfully  carried  out  and  that  the  praises  of  those  accompanying 
it  will  be  sung  by  ages  yet  unborn. 

"In  regard  to  the  maidens,  I  can  imagine,  while  on  the  sea,  when  the 
ocean  is  perfectly  calm,  that  you  will  look  down  from  the  ship,  on  its 
placid  waters,  and  then  I  can  say  you  will  behold  images  in  the  water, 
reflections  portraying  the  most  beautiful  women  of  the  world."  (Ap 
plause.) 

After  the  applause  had  died  away,  Irisonia  stepped  forward  and  as 
cended  the  table,  bearing-  a  pole,  turning  it  so  as  to  unfold  a  flag1.  Iris 
onia  spoke  as  follows : 

"This  flag  is  one  of  the  flags  of  the  Aeolus.  All  its  other  flags  will 
be  of  the  same  design  and  color.  The  flags  which  are  to  wave  from  each 
of  its  masts,  some  will  be  much  larger  and  some  much  smaller." 

Lifting  the  flag  high  in  the  air  and  waving  it  to  and  fro  gracefully, 
so  that  all  could  see  its  colors,  she  said : 

"These  colors  are  certainly  familiar  to  you  all.  After  the  Gods  of 
Thunder,  Lightning  and  Rain  have  ceased  their  rage,  and  Phoebus  darts 
his  rays  upon  the  quiet  scene  again — behold  the  rainbow!  a  sign  and 
promise  that  the  storm  is  ended  and  fair  weather  will  prevail.  It  is 
known  to  you  all  that  a  prize  was  offered  to  any  one  of  the  voyagers 
who  should  suggest  the  most  acceptable  design  for  the  ship's  flag.  Just 
after  the  subsidence  of  a  turbulent  rain  and  thunder  storm,  a  company 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     71 

of  our  young  maiden  and  gentlemen  voyagers  were  walking  along  one  of 
our  streets,  when  Delia,  one  of  our  company,  said :  'Halt,  let  all  of 
us  bear  witness  that  I  suggest  (pointing  with  raised  arm  to  the  eastern 
sky)  the  rainbow,  as  a  design  for  our  ship  Aeolus'  flag.'  It  was  a  beau 
tiful  distinct  rainbow  and  all  of  us  present  upon  the  occasion  immedi 
ately  recognized  the  beauty  of  the  design.  From  the  numerous  designs 
offered,  Delia's  was  selected  as  the  most  beautiful  and  appropriate 
one  and  thus  the  prize  was  won  by  her. 

"One  of  our  artists  was  asked  to  paint  upon  the  first  opportunity  from 
observation,  the  colors  of  the  arched  rainbow.  This,  he  did,  painting 
seven  colors,  and  it  is  after  his  painting  that  the  colors  of  the  flags  were 
woven,  the  square  sky-blue  flag  forming  its  background. 

"Although  all  of  us  of  the  company  at  the  time  immediately  recognized 
the  beauty  of  the  design  which  she  intended  to  submit,  we  now  begin 
to  appreciate  the  design  in  a  still  greater  degree.  We  are  to  sail  out  on 
a  mission  of  peace,  and  not  war ;  and  we  believe  that  on  whatever  shores 
we  may  land,  there  are  no  peoples  so  crude  as  not  to  note  the  sugges 
tion  of  peace,  beautifully  waving  from  the  four  masts  of  the  Aeolus. 

"The  rainbow,  we  believe,  among  all  peoples  is  looked  upon  as  a  sign 
of  hope  and  peace.  For  its  appearance  announces  that  peace  has 
taken  place  among  the  elements  after  a  storm.  In  the  night,  the 
moon  also  occasionally  calls  forth  the  rainbow  to  embellish  the  blue 
vault  above.  Many  persons  have  never  seen  a  rainbow  in  the  western 
sky,  because  at  dawn,  they  slumber  too  long  in  the  arms  of  Morpheus. 
Also  in  the  spray  and  splashings  of  the  sea,  the  many  colored  rainbow 
dwells ;  an  appropriate  design  indeed  for  us,  who  are  to  become  confed 
erates  of  the  watery  realm.  Rainbows  are  displayed  in  many  ways  on 
the  mist  of  waters. 

"If  the  Fates  decree  that  the  Aeolus  and  all  of  its  voyagers  should 
never  return,  we  hope  that  at  the  sight  of  a  rainbow  in  the  sky,  kind 
remembrances  will  arise  in  your  minds  of  those  who  sailed  away  in  the 
wonderful  ship,  from  the  masts  of  which  proudly  waved  the  rainbow 
flags." 

Again  waving  the  flag  gracefully  to  and  fro,  Irisonia  continued : 

"Iris,  Goddess  of  the  Rainbow!  Ever  beautifully  arrayed  in  a  robe 
of  brilliant  hues,  we  revere  and  honor  thee  and  ever  behold  thee  with 
pleasure  and  reverence.  If  our  ship  should,  by  fate's  decree,  meet  dis 
aster,  the  rainbow  flags  will  proudly  wave  unto  the  last.  The  rainbow 
is  the  bow  of  hope  and  promise  and  it  is  in  that  spirit  the  flags  will 
wave  o'er  the  Aeolus;  and  in  that  spirit  also  all  the  voyagers  proceed 
upon  our  journey,  determined  to  look  forth  courageously,  happily  and 
hopefully."  (Great  applause.) 

Near  the  close  of  the  feast,  Vetorious,  one  of  the  young  men  voyagers, 
rose  and  said : 


72  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"At  this  farewell  feast  held  in  our  honor,  it  was  intended  that  we 
should  have  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  the  speakers,  rather  than  to 
speak  ourselves.  It  has,  however,  been  found  necessary  for  our  fair 
fellow-maiden  voyagers,  through  Orientes,  to  speak  and  correct  er 
roneous  ideas  expressed  by  one  of  the  speakers.  Our  noble  '400'  of 
Athens,  as  you  are  pleased  to  call  us,  agree  that  a  few  more  words 
should  have  been  said  from  our  side.  The  fulsome  praise  bestowed  upon 
us  by  many  of  your  speakers  is  more  than  we  can  listen  to  without  ex 
plaining  our  views  of  them.  If  we  really  stand  forth  as  a  superior,  in 
comparable  type  of  the  human  race,  as  claimed  by  your  speakers,  the 
credit  of  such  an  achievement  surely  does  not  belong  to  us  individually ; 
but,  as  your  remarks  will  bear  us  out,  belongs  to  the  wisdom  and  fore 
thought  of  three  generations  of  our  ancestors.  As  claimed  by  orators,  we 
here  this  day,  are  the  result  of  over  three  generations  of  thoughtful  mat 
ing,  Spartan  training  and  philosophical  teachings.  And  right  here  we 
wish  to  say  that  we  fully  appreciate  the  great  forethought  required  to 
achieve  the  standard  claimed  for  us ;  and  do  express  our  endless  thanks 
for  the  brave  and  loving  ancestors,  parents,  and  our  native  city  of 
Athens;  and  lastly  but  not  least,  to  the  Gods  whose  friendly  spirit  to 
wards  the  designs  of  our  sacred  ancestors,  we  feel  within  our  very  being. 
To  us  the  world  is  beauty  and  music;  beauty  in  sky,  forest  and  sea. 
Music  in  trees,  winds,  wave,  thunder  and  rain.  From  this  small  but  deep 
bronze  tripod  which  I  hold  to  view,  incense  will  rise  when  on  our  ship, 
unceasingly,  throughout  our  whole  voyage.  And  now,  fellow  Grecians, 
the  honor  has  been  conferred  upon  me  to  light  this  tripod  here  and  all 
rising,  we  pray  in  unison : 

"O,  ye  Gods,  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  please  accept  this  incense 
ascending  from  the  tripod,  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  and  thanks  for 
your  special  favors,  and  may  it  be  as  sweet  savor  unto  you. 

"Fellow  Anthenians,  we  remember  from  the  teachings  of  our  philoso 
phers  that  after  all,  the  principal  question  a  man  should  ask  himself : 
'What  can  I  do,  and  what  have  I  accomplished?'  So  far  all  has  been 
done  for  us,  yes,  from  over  three  generations  back. 

"Orientes,  in  her  remarks,  has  indicated  the  intense  determina 
tion  with  which  our  agreeable  fellow  voyagers  have  joined  us  on  the 
great  commercial  venture.  And  again  for  all  of  our  fellow  voyagers,  we 
can  say  that  we  fully  comprehend  that  our  achievements  ought  to  be 
fully  in  proportion  to  the  favors  bestowed  upon  us  by  the  Gods.  Fellow 
Athenians,  we  shall  go  forth  on  our  grand  commercial  adventure  with  a 
full  realization  of  its  importance  for  our  native  Athens.  We  shall  sail 
forth  from  our  Bay  of  Phalerum  out  to  distant,  and  as  yet,  unknown 
seashores  with  a  determination  that  whatever  may  befall  us,  whatever 
obstacles  we  may  find  necessary  to  overcome,  or  whatever  may  overtake 
us,  even  to  the  ship  seeking  rest  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  we  will  under 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      73 

all  and  every  circumstance  act  courageously  and  fearlessly  as  become 
true  Athenians.  (Applause.)  Our  fearless  determination  shall  be  such 
as  to  be  worthy  of  ourselves  and  of  the  name  'Athenian.'  Our  most 
strenuous  efforts  shall  be  exerted  towards  that  for  which  so  much  wis 
dom,  patience  and  labor  has  been  expended,  namely,  the  accomplishment 
of  a  successful  commercial  voyage."  (Applause.) 

The  feast  and  banquet  given  by  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Athens 
in  honor  of  their  cultured  voyagers  ended  with  a  dance,  all  of  which 
proved  itself  to  be  a  most  brilliant  and  enjoyable  affair. 

Mr.  Delhurst  paused  reading  and  said : 

"I  have  now  finished  reading  the  toasts  held  at  the  banquet  given  in 
honor  of  the  Athenian  Commercial  Adventurers.  It  is  getting  quite  late, 
and  as  you  asked  me  to  read  the  story  in  full,  I  must  cease  for  the 
present,  and  ask  you,  if  you  so  desire,  to  call  again  at  five  o'clock  to 
morrow  evening.  I  will  then  proceed  with  the  reading  of  the  story.  Let 
us  now  proceed  to  the  Winter  room,  where  a  warm  luncheon  is  await 
ing  us." 

After  partaking  of  lunch  in  the  elegant  glistening  Winter  room,  they 
returned  home;  and  at  the  appointed  time  next  evening,  put  in  their 
appearance. 

It  was  found  that  it  required  several  more  evenings  in  order  to  read 
the  full  story  conveniently ;  on  which  a  larger  number  of  the  elite  of  the 
metropolis  were  present,  the  four  elegant  rooms  of  the  seasons  being 
thrown  open  for  the  occasion.  The  evenings  concluded  with  a  supper 
and  musicale,  graced  by  noted  vocal  and  instrumental  soloists. 

Mr.  Delhurst's  continued  readings  of  the  story  were  as  follows: 

Many  different  samples  of  merchandise,  such  as  wines,  olive  oil, 
silks,  dried  fruits,  purple  dies,  incenses  of  several  kinds,  attractive  works 
of  art,  which  should  be  exhibited  as  samples,  and  a  share  of  same  also 
bartered  for  other  merchandise  in  foreign  lands,  also  including  beads 
which  also  were  intended  as  gifts  to  be  presented  to  rulers  and  persons 
of  influence  whenever  and  wherever  it  was  thought  to  be  advantageous. 
Also  large  quantities  of  implements  of  war  were  added  to  the  ship's 
complement,  such  as  brilliant  shields  and  scaly  coats  of  mail,  arrows, 
spears,  lances,  slings,  war  clubs,  helmets,  cuirasses,  maces,  swords,  dag 
gers,  spiked  clubs,  dolphins,  large  bowlders  to  be  dropped  from  the 
yards  into  boats  in  battle,  stones  of  all  sizes  for  the  slings  and  several 
large  catapults,  all  for  the  purpose  of  defence  against  possible  attack 
on  foreign  seas  or  shores.  The  food  department  of  the  ship  was  crowded 
with  a  large  supply  of  provisions  which,  as  well  as  all  other  merchandise, 
was  represented  in  plethoric  abundance,  sufficient  to  last  many  moons 
longer  than  the  intended  duration  of  the  voyage.  Its  supply  of  water 
was  kept  in  a  large  tank  in  the  bottom  of  the  ship.  All  that  forethought, 


74  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

labor  and  wealth  could  do  towards  obtaining  the  most  careful  and  de 
tailed  equipment  of  the  great  ship  had  been  accomplished  and  she,  lying 
at  the  wharf  in  Phalerum,  seemed  eager  to  cut  the  glassy  deep. 

"When  shall  the  wonderful  ship  start  upon  its  journey?"  was  the 
great  question  asked.  Such  an  important  event  was  not  for  mortal  man 
to  decide.  The  good  ship  was  ready  to  proceed  upon  its  journey.  But 
what  day  should  be  set  for  its  departure?  Consultation  with  the  Gods 
was  upon  all  questions  pertaining  to  this  great  venture  tacitly  under 
stood  and  agreed  upon.  Three  young  men  and  three  maiden  voyagers 
were  selected  to  proceed  to  the  Oracle  of  Delphi  for  the  purpose  of  con 
sulting  the  Oracle  of  Delphi  as  to  the  most  propitious  day  on  which  the 
great  ship  should  start  upon  its  voyage.  The  young  men  and  maidens 
started  upon  their  mission  and,  arriving  at  Delphi,  by  the  aid  of  valuable 
presents,  were  unhesitatingly  admitted  to  the  priest  of  the  Temple,  who, 
after  hearing  their  cause,  informed  them  to  call  at  the  rising  of  the  next 
sun.  The  youths  and  maidens  called  at  the  temple  at  the  appointed  time 
and  were  received  by  the  priest,  who,  after  receiving  additional  valuable 
presents,  handed  a  sealed  scroll  to  them,  containing  the  name  of  the  day 
on  which  the  ship  should  depart  upon  its  commercial  enterprise,  as  given 
by  the  Oracle  of  the  Temple,  with  the  warning  that  the  same  should  not 
be  opened,  nor  read  excepting  on  board  of  the  ship  Aeolus,  in  the  pres 
ence  of  the  captain  and  all  the  voyagers. 

Upon  returning  to  Athens,  the  messengers,  captain,  and  all  the  ship's 
voyagers  met  on  the  ship.  A  strong  oaken  chair  was  placed  in  the  mid 
dle  of  the  ship's  deck  for  the  one  to  ascend  who  was  to  read  the  oracle, 
setting  forth  the  day  for  the  ship's  departure. 

Cortentious,  who,  at  the  beginning  of  the  pilgrimage  had  been 
selected  to  receive  the  oracle  from  the  prophet,  ascended  the  oaken  chair 
with  the  scroll  in  his  hand,  saying : 

"Fellow  seafarers !  I  must  say  that  being  surrounded  by  an  unaccus 
tomed  entirely  new  situation  of  things,  whether  this  manner  of  address 
ing  you  is  quite  proper.  But  I  only  wish  to  add  that  we  have  learned, 
while  in  Delphi,  that  women,  especially  young,  plastic,  sensitive  maidens, 
hold  a  closer  position  to  the  gods  in  regard  to  predictions,  prophecy,  ora 
cles,  than  the  so-called  stronger  sex.  So  the  messengers  have  unani 
mously  selected  Orientes,  who  will  unseal  this  sacred  scroll  and 
read  the  oracle's  advice  contained  therein." 

Standing  upon  the  chair  with  scroll  in  hand,  Orientes  said : 

"Fellow  adventurers !  To  those,  if  any,  who  may  have  had  moments 
of  wavering  faith  as  to  the  fulfillment  of  the  Delphic  Oracle  of  Apollo's 
prophecies,  I  wish  to  emphasize  that  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Shrine  of  Apollo 
will  never  fail  of  strengthening  the  frailest  of  faiths  in  the  reliability 
and  sacredness  of  the  Oracle's  prophecies.  The  scroll  I  hold  in  my  hand, 
what  it  contains,  none  of  us  know,  as  yet ;  but  whatever  the  oracular  ad- 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      75 

vice  may  be,  whether  it  affects  us  agreeably  or  disagreeably,  it  matters 
not.  We  only  know,  although  it  may  require  a  long  time  for  us  to  per 
ceive  its  correctness  and  even  to  understand  its  full  meaning,  we  shall 
always  live  in  the  faith  that  in  the  end,  it  is  for  our  good.  Therefore, 
whatever  the  oracle's  advice  may  be,  as  is  already  understood,  it  must 
be  followed  with  studied  minuteness,  faith  and  confidence.  I  now  break 
the  seal  and  untie  the  sacred  cord  which  binds  the  sacred  scroll. 

"It  reads  as  follows : 

"Athenians :  May  the  favor  of  the  gods  accompany  your  wonderful 
ship  Aeolus  upon  its  course  which  is  to  run  towards  the  setting  of  the 
sun. 

"Oracle  (1)  Odysseus. 

Odysseus  in  the  shades  below, 
A  sailor  he,  of  long  ago, 
Whom  towering  seas  and  winds  had  blown 
From  shore  to  shores  as  yet  unknown; 
His  ship,  from  Troy,  was  homeward  bound 
Through  adverse  storms,  was  waft  around. 
The  winds  were  fair — the  other  way. 
Thus  he,  the  ocean's  power  and  sway 
From  dire  experience  knew  quite  well. 
We  asked  his  shade,  now  hear  him  tell 
With  sailor's  voice,  short,  gruff,  though  clear: 

'Sail  on,  my   lads!     Sail  on,  no  fear! 

What!     Yes,  I  see  at  Athen's  strand 

A  monster  ship,  amazing,  grand! 

Why,  yes,  with  lots  of  maidens,  too, 

Look  here,  dear  boys,  'twill  never  do. 

When  I,  from  Troy,  sailed  o'er  the  main, 

My  dear  own  Ithaca  to  gain, 

My  shipmates  were  my  warriors  brave, 

With  such,  'twas  sport  to  cleave  the  wave. 

I  hear  your  question,  yes,  quite  plain — 

Unanswered  it  shall  not  remain. 

'Answer  short!'  I  hear  you  say, 

Well,  I've  time.     I'll  have  my  way. 

In  the  shades  here  do"7n  below 

There  is  no  rushing,  you  should  know. 

Yes,  my  answer  shall  be  given, 

But  those  beauties  "dream  of  heaven" ! 

They  intend  to  sail  along? 

Well,  now,  boys,  that  does  seem  strong. 

Centuries  'tis  since  I  have  been 

Interviewed  by  living  men; 

And  your  ways  may  different  be 

Since  the  moons  I  sailed  the  sea. 

Penelope,  dearest,  while  on  earth 

Would  that  she  had  held  a  berth 

On  my  storm  and  wave-tossed  ship 


76  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Oft  I'd  kissed  her,  lip  to  lip. 
Your  Aeolus,  when  shall  it  sail? 
And  my  answer  shall  prevail? 
I  will  tell  you,  yes,  I  know, 
From  experience  long  ago: 

'In  the  springtime  of  the  year, 

When  the  Pleiades,  bright  and  clear, 

Glitter  in  the  vault  above 

And  all  nature  sighs  for  love ; 

When  darkness  equals  day, 

Then,  grand  ship!     Then  sail  away.' 

"Oracle  (2)  Neptunus. 

The  wild  waves  spoke  through  ocean's  roar: 
'Sail  on,  proud  ship,  from  Athen's  shore.' 

The  seashell,  too,  against  the  ear, 

In  ocean's  stormy  words  spoke  clear: 
'When  equal  are  the  night — the  day, 

Then  sail,  proud  ship,  sail,  sail  away.' 

"Oracle  (3)   (Astrologer). 

'Aeries,  Taurus,  Gemini, 
Constellations  in   the  sky, 
Standing  out  so  bright  and  clear 
In  the  springtime  of  the  year.' 
Thus  the  answer :      'Let  it  be 
Taurus  when  they  sail  the  sea. 
Venus,  too,  then  sheds  her  light 
On  reflecting  waters  bright.' 

"Oracle  (4). 

In  midnight's  darkest  hour 
In  deep  sequestered  vale, 
The  waters  with  great  power 
With  colors  dark  and  pale 
Leap  o'er  the  cliff  above 
With  roaring  rushing  sound; 
It  seemed  to  sing  of  love 
While  all  was  still  around. 
'When  shall  the  ship  depart? 
My  answer  shall  decide. 
I'll  tell  you  from  my  heart, — 
Sail  on  the  waters  wide, 
On  a  morning  in  the  spring 
While  the  moon  is  on  the  wane 
And  the  birds  their  sweetest  sing; 
Then  sail  forth  upon  the  main.' 
Thus  spoke  the  watery  tongue 
Rushing  down  with  restless  power, 
As  from  rocky  cliff  it  hung." 

"The  oracle's  answer  to  the  question:  Upon  what  day  shall  Aeolus 
sail  fourth  upon  its  journey  ?  has  been  given  by  Neptume  through  the 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers      77 

elements  over  which  he  rules  and  by  Odysseus,  most  ancient  and  great 
est  of  sailors.  The  answer  of  the  combined  oracles  is:  'On  the  first 
morning,  following  the  first  full  moon,  after  night  and  day  were  equal, 
in  the  springtime  of  the  year. 

'Signed,  PRIEST  TO  APOLLO,  DELPHI.'  " 

Amidst  the  exultation  and  cheers  of  the  excited  voyagers  on  the 
ship,  which  resounded  over  land  and  sea,  Scriborites,  the  principal 
scribe  and  master  of  rolls  and  records  of  the  ship,  stepped  forward  to 
receive  the  scroll  from  the  hands  of  Orientes.  Loud  cheers  and 
shouting  followed  on  the  wharf  and  shore.  A  day  had  been  set.  That 
was  plainly  understood  by  all  who  were  within  hearing  distance  of 
Orientes'  clear,  distinct  vocal  powers.  But  what  day?  That  was  not 
so  clearly  stated  as  to  be  immediately  understood.  The  next  few  mo 
ments  were  moments  of  running  to  and  fro  and  of  questioning.  Those 
who  could  not  conceal  their  uncertainty  asked  those  who  in  silence 
posed  with  knowing  faces,  whose  evading  answer  generally  was,  "Did 
not  Orientes  read  the  oracle  in  her  accustomed  clear,  distinct  voice  ?" 
or,  "Where  were  you?" 

Captain  Arteus,  who  had  stood  near  Orientes  during  the  reading 
of  the  oracle,  ordered  his  officers  to  command  quiet.  The  captain  said : 

"Fellow  voyagers,"  in  his  gruff  voice,  "the  day  set  by  the  oracles  is 
very  plainly  stated.  The  time  for  our  departure  arrives  on  the  morn 
ing  following  the  second  setting  of  the  sun." 

After  renewed  applause,  shouts  and  cheers  on  ship  and  shore,  the 
captain  continued:  "The  committee  on  arrangements  will  act  accord 
ingly. 

"As  soon  as  the  Aeolus  is  disconnected  from  the  shore,  I  hold,  with 
agreed  regulations,  supreme  command  of  the  ship." 

During  the  evening  the  sterner  half  of  the  voyagers  formed  a  torch 
light  procession  up  to  the  Acropolis,  imploring  Athene  for  a  propitious 
voyage,  which  was  followed  by  a  torchlight  foot  race  around  the 
Acropolis. 

Early  on  the  morning  preceding  the  day  set  for  the  sailing  of  the 
Aeolus,  all  of  the  voyagers  proceeded  to  the  ocean  strand  at  Phalerum, 
formed  into  a  single  line,  and  upon  a  sign  from  the  priest  of  Poseidon, 
walked  up  to  over  their  waists  into  the  sea,  the  waves  of  which  were 
only  gently  curled  by  a  mild  sea  breeze.  The  ladies  were  groomed  in 
scanty,  tight-fitting  white  bathing  suits,  the  men  in  similar  attire  of  a 
dark  blue  color. 

The  venerable  priest  of  Poseidon,  who  stood  in  the  center  of  the  long 
column  with  outstretched  arms,  spoke,  with  a  loud  impressive  voice, 
out  over  the  sea :  "Poseidon  !  Monarch  of  the  ever  restless  liquid  blue ; 
King  of  the  sea !  The  power  of  thy  billows  and  the  sway  of  thy  tides 
is  irresistible.  Thy  strength  floweth  from  afar.  The  strongest  ship 


78  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

dashed  by  your  power  against  a  rock  becomes  wreckage ;  or  overwhelmed 
with  the  force  of  your  billows,  the  voice  of  the  mariner  is  forever 
silenced  in  the  depths  below.  The  curling  waves  resounding  on  the 
shore  sing  but  the  requiem  to  its  countless  dead,  also  is  the  roaring  of 
thy  waters  a  hymn  of  praise  to  thy  Creator.  Prom  everlasting  to  ever 
lasting,  thy  power  prevaileth.  The  seas  in  which  we  now  stand  here, 
have  laved  the  distant  shores  where  icebergs  glitter,  as  well  as  the 
rocks  and  lands  where  the  orange  grows.  Thy  power  none  can  stay; 
but  onward — onward — onward  ever — resting  never.  Thy  realm  extends 
to  the  end  of  the  world,  where  at  places  your  mighty  waters  plunge  in 
streaming  cataracts,  over  the  edge  of  the  world,  down,  down,  down 
into  the  dark,  fathomless  abyss;  in  its  endless  descent,  turning  to  fine 
mists  rising  up  into  clouds,  wafted  o'er  the  earth,  coming  down  again 
as  rain.  Thus  ever  going,  coming,  going,  coming.  Water,  O  Poseidon! 
The  element  over  which  thou  rulest  is  the  element  of  elements.  The 
surface  of  thy  great  waters  is  akin  to  the  human  form  divine — smooth 
and  calm,  its  face  in  its  time — but  when  wroth,  ruffled  and  grim,  like 
a  human  countenance  in  rage.  Many  go  out  to  sea  in  ships,  but  all  do 
not  return.  O  Poseidon!  The  wonderful  ship  Aeolus,  which,  by  the 
advice  of  the  Delphic  Oracle,  is  to  sail  on  the  next  rising  of  the  sun 
upon  your  glassy  billows,  to  strange,  distant  shores — may  its  presence 
be  agreeable  to  you.  In  a  spirit  of  friendship,  it  saileth  forth  upon  its 
mission,  in  the  same  spirit,  O  we  invoke  Thee,  greet  it  and  receive  it 
upon  thy  liquid  realms  as  one  receives  a  stranger  guest  of  high  degree. 
Thus,  O,  we  invoke  Thee  in  like  manner  may  thy  reception  be  towards 
the  Aeolus.  O  Poseidon  (Neptune),  God  of  the  Sea!  Deep  upon  thy 
ocean's  ground,  lie  strewn  great  riches  of  precious  glittering  metals, 
silver,  gold  and  sparkling  jewels  untold.  Thy  endless  seas,  in  calm,  O 
Neptune,  is  the  world's  looking  glass,  a  mirror,  in  which  Sun,  Moon 
and  Stars  can  behold  their  golden  beauty  and  brilliancy.  O 
Poseidon,  we  all  now  thrice  bow  to  thee,  under  the  waters,  thus 
with  dripping  raiment,  we  humbly  signify  and  acknowledge  thy  power 
and  sovereignty  over  the  seas,  extending  to  the  end  of  the  world.  O 
Poseidon,  with  folded  hands,  under  the  sea,  we  humbly  implore  thy 
tempering  power  o'er  swaying  tides  and  raging  billows,  wherever  the 
Aeolus  may  sail." 

Upon  a  motion  of  the  high  priest  the  voyagers  all  joined  in  singing 
praise  in  honor  of  the  sea,  keeping  time  by  patting  the  sea  with  the 
palm  of  their  hands: 

Poseidon — Poseidon — Monarch  of  the  deep  blue  sea ! 
We  love  Thy  surging  waters  grand,  its  endless  majesty. 
Upon  its  bosom  soft  and  wide,  seabirds  ride; 
And  men  in  ships  onward  stride  by  oar,  wind  and  tide. 
Hurling,  whirling,  curling,  splashing,  dashing,  lashing  sea ! 
We  love  Thee — we  love  Thee! 


The  Personnel  Composing  the  Great  Ship's  Voyagers     79 

Poseidon — Poseidon — Thy  power  and  sway  doth  extend 
From  shore  to  shore — to  the  wide  world's  very  end. 
Where  e'er  Hellas  spreads  her  sail, 
We  invoke  Thee,  do  not  fail, 

O'er  the  waves  swept  by  the  gale,  let  Thy  tempering  power  prevail. 
Restless,  roving,  rolling,  roaring,  raging,  rumbling  sea, 
We  love  Thee — we  love  Thee. 

The  patting  of  the  water  by  the  hands  in  rhythmic  time  ceased 
with  the  ending  of  the  song. 

Upon  a  signal  from  the  priest  of  Poseidon,  the  supplicants  returned 
in  line  to  the  land. 

A  large  concourse  of  Athenians  had  by  this  time  gathered  on  the 
beach.  Aquatic  contests  were  entered  into  by  the  voyagers.  An  equal 
number  of  small  boats  for  the  maidens  and  for  the  men  were  set  adrift 
at  equal  distances  from  the  shore.  Each  boat  contained  a  wreath 
entwined  with  flowers.  Swimming  contests  to  reach  and  enter  these 
boats  and  return  the  same  to  the  shore  were  strongly  contested.  Upon 
entering  a  boat,  the  contestant  placed  the  wreath  on  his  head.  Upon 
returning  to  the  shore,  each  victor  was  greeted  by  the  assembled  mul 
titude  with  cheers  and  plaudits  of  praise.  Running  contests,  waist  deep 
in  the  water,  between  the  maidens  and  men  were  also  entered  into.  The 
victors  crowned  with  flowery  wreaths,  were  escorted  to  Athens  by  their 
fellow  voyagers,  followed  by  the  populace,  where  they  received  the 
plaudits  of  the  citizens  as  well  as  oratorial  laudations. 


CHAPTER  V 


THE  SHIP'S  DEPARTURE  FROM  PHALERUM, 
ATHEN'S  SEAPORT 

The  great  auspicious  day  set  for  the  sailing  of  the  great  ship  Aeolus 
was  near  at  hand.  In  the  darkness  of  night,  before  the  sun  had  risen 
over  Mt.  Hymettus  in  the  East,  the  voyagers  marched  down  to  the 
Aeolus.  The  maidens  and  men  marched  in  regular  military  order, 
arrayed  in  bright,  glistening  coats  of  mail,  the  maidens  carrying  bows 
and  arrows,  the  men,  burnished  shields  and  lances.  All  signs  promised 
a  beautiful  morning  and  an  ideal  day  in  all  respects.  The  Bay  of 
Phalerum  was  only  slightly  rippled  by  a  fair  land  breeze.  The  wharf, 
connecting  the  ship  with  the  shore,  was  constructed  of  long  tree  logs, 
covered  with  heavy  planks.  Upon  this  floating  wharf,  close  to  the 
ship's  side,  a  high  rostrum  was  erected  close  to,  and  even  with  the 
height  of  the  ship  from  which  a  speaker  was  to  hold  a  farewell  ad 
dress  to  the  voyagers.  The  huge  floating  castle  with  its  tall,  strong 
masts  and  wide  yard-arms,  with  its  upper  sails  partly  untied,  presented 
an  imposing  marine  wonder.  The  rainbow  flags  waving  from  each  of 
the  four  masts  presented  a  pleasing  sight  to  behold.  Burnished  censers 
swung  from  the  ends  of  the  yard-arms  and  from  the  outer  end  of  the 
ship's  bowsprit.  These  were  lighted  simultaneously,  from  which  sweet 
perfume  of  incense  arose  as  an  offering  to  the  gods.  A  tripod  with  in 
cense  also  stood  on  the  stand  erected  for  the  priest  of  Neptune,  and 
from  which  the  farewell  address  also  was  to  be  held.  On  a  nearby 
elevation  on  the  shore,  an  extraordinarily  large  tripod  was  erected 
from  which  smoke  of  incense  arose  in  large  volumes,  floating  out  over 
the  sea.  A  well-constructed  float,  upon  which  a  tripod  was  fastened, 
emitting  fumes  of  incense,  was  sent  adrift  out  upon  the  sea  as  an  offer 
ing  to  the  gods,  Neptune  and  Aeolus.  Before  the  break  of  day  the 
parents,  and  those  belonging  to  the  noble  families  of  Athens,  had  already 
assembled  on  the  wharf  which  was  held  in  reserve  for  them.  Efforts 
had  been  made  to  keep  the  day  of  departure  unknown  from  the  general 
populace,  wishing  to  make  it  an  exclusive  affair  as  much  as  possible. 
But,  as  a  noted  Grecian  philosopher  once  said :  "If  you  wish  an  event 
to  become  known  far  and  fast,  make  it  known  to  some  person,  especially 
a  woman,  and  tell  him  or  her  to  be  sure  not  to  breathe  it,  be  sure  to 
keep  it  a  secret,  tell  it  to  no  one."  This  secrecy  seemed  to  have  a  leak, 
also,  as  hundreds  of  eager  spectators  lined  the  shore,  even  before  the 
orb  of  day  arose  above  Mt.  Hymettus. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  81 

Mr.  Delhurst  paused  and  said:  "The  following  has  no  connection 
with  the  event,  but  Mr.  Zenothemis  said  that  it  was  also  a  tradition 
received  from  Athenians  that  for  years  and  years  after  the  departure 
of  the  ship,  the  boys,  Athenian  youths,  playing  on  the  shores  of  the 
Bay  of  Phalerum,  would  often  send  tripods  erected  upon  small  floats, 
adrift  out  into  the  sea,  saying  and  hoping  that  the  smoke  arising  there 
from  might  be  seen  by  the  great  ship  they  had  been  told  about,  which 
might  enable  the  great  ship  to  find  its  way  back  home  again." 

The  sun  had  not  yet  arisen,  the  clear  morning  twilight  presented 
objects  to  view  at  a  great  distance.  The  ship  was  festooned  on  its 
sides,  with  green  garlands,  intertwined  writh  bright  flowers.  Aurora's 
rosy  light  grew  brighter  and  brighter  and  shortly  before  the  orb  of 
day  was  about  to  gild  the  hills  and  the  temples  crowning  the  Acropolis, 
Zenolious,  the  priest  of  Zeus,  Philostenes  and  Diontes  groped  their  way 
through  the  throng  onto  the  wharf  and  ascended  the  rostrum  from 
which  the  farewell  address  was  to  be  held.  Upon  lighting  the  incense 
in  the  tripod  Zenolious,  with  a  trident  in  his  hand,  tapped  the  same 
on  the  stand  near  him  and  called  to  the  multitude:  "Order!"  which 
request  was  followed  by  almost  a  breathless  silence. 

He  said :    "The  ship  be  consecrated  by  the  waters  of  the  sea." 

Whereupon  a,  young  scholar  of  the  priest  ascended  the  ship  with  a 
large  green  cedar  twig,  threw  the  twig  with  a  cord  attached,  a  number 
of  times  into  the  sea,  drew  it  up  again  and  sprinkled  the  deck,  from 
bow  to  stern,  after  which  he  passed  down  to  the  wharf  again.  The 
priest,  upon  tapping  the  trident  a  second  time,  gave  orders  to  the 
voyagers  and  those  on  the  wharf  that  upon  his  signal  with  the  trident, 
just  at  the  sun's  rising,  all  should  join  in  and  sing  the  song  especially 
composed  for  the  occasion,  in  honor  of  Phoebus.  Just  as  the  golden 
orb  of  day's  first  rays  darted  over  Mt.  Hymettus;  upon  a  signal  from 
the  priest  the  full  chorus  on  wharf  and  ship  sang: 

"Hail !    We  hail  Thee,  golden  Phcebus  ; 
Turning  darkness  into  Day. 
We  invoke  Thee,  we  invoke  Thee, 
Light  our  ship  upon  its  way, 
Light  our  ship  upon  its  way. 

"With  Thy  torch,  the  stars  you  light, 
As  in  West,  you  go  to  rest, 
Lessening  darkness  in  the  night, 
Lessening  darkness  in  the  night. 

"And  the  moon  you  light  a  piece, 
Burning  on,  till  it  must  cease; 
Thankful,  thankful,  O  are  we, 
Sailing  o'er  the  pathless  sea, 
Sailing  o'er  the  pathless  sea. 


82  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Phoebus,  golden  Orb  of  Day, 
We  invoke  Thee,  to  Thee  pray, 
Light  our  ship  upon  its  way, 
Light  our  ship  upon  its  way." 

The  strong,  manly  voices  intermingled  with  the  maidens'  sweet, 
mellifluous  tones,  resounded  out  musically  in  the  bright  morning  air, 
over  land  and  bay.  The  greeting  and  grand  chorus  could  not  but  be 
highly  pleasing  to  Phoebus,  the  like  of  which  the  great  eye  of  day  could 
never  before  have  beheld.  After  a  short  pause,  the  captain,  standing 
on  the  raised  cabin  near  the  ship's  stern,  ordered  silence,  pointing  with 
his  hand  to  the  bow  of  the  ship.  This  command  was  conveyed  by  two 
repeaters  who  stood  equal  distances  apart,  the  ship  being  three  com 
mands  long.  Slowly  and  ponderously  there  rose  over  the  ship's  sea 
ward  bow  a  large  monster  in  the  shape  of  a  mermaid,  but  with  heavy, 
long  dark  sea  green  whiskers  and  hair.  The  scales  glittered  like  silver 
in  the  early  morning  sunshine.  Holding  itself  erect  by  one  of  the  for 
ward  stays,  while  his  broad  tail  hung  over  into  the  sea,  he  gave  three 
short,  sharp  shouts  and  with  a  wave  of  his  left  arm-like  appendage, 
looking  sharply  with  his  black  piercing  eyes  in  all  directions  at  the 
voyagers,  he  said  in  a  loud,  deep  sea  roaring-like  voice. 

"Sea-rovers!  The  sweet  wave  tones  of  your  loud,  melodious  invo 
cation  to  Phoebus,  to  light  your  great  ship  upon  its  way,  resounded  beau 
tifully  down  into  the  depths  below,  and  its  melody  moved  me  to  appear 
up  here.  Your  contemplated  adventure  cannot  be  unknown  to  my 
lord  and  liege  Poseidon  (Neptune),  Monarch  of  the  Seas,  nor  to  Aeolus, 
God  of  the  Winds.  This  morning's  rippling  sea  and  fair  wind,  blowing 
from  an  unusual  quarter  for  this  season  of  the  year  may  be  interpreted 
as  signifying  that  the  presence  of  your  grand  ship  out  upon  the  distant 
sea  is  agreeable  to  the  gods,  being  an  invitation,  beckoning  you,  as  it 
were,  to  proceed  upon  your  journey.  In  my  liquid  element,  down  under 
the  swaying  billows,  I  have  heard  sailors  above  refer  to  me  as  the 
'Old  Man  of  the  Sea.'  Yes,  I  am  he — the  old  man  of  the  sea — and  I  take 
a  somewhat  human  curiosity  in  your  brave  adventure."  With  a  special 
effort  to  hold  himself  erect,  again  waving  his  left  arm-like  appendage, 
he  shouted  out  in  a  still  louder  wave-roaring-like  voice :  "Today !  Fair 
Is  the  wind  and  sea!  But  days  there  will  come  when  mountain  billows 
and  adverse  storms  will  rage,  presenting  opportunities  as  they  do,  to 
learn  the  noble  art  of  true  seamanship,  thus  gaining  in  strength,  knowl 
edge  and  skill  to  overcome  and  battle  against  the  storms  on  life's  watery 
pathways.  Then  display  skill  and  courage  and 'do  your  best.  To  the 
Fates  then  leave  the  rest."  Again  with  a  wave  of  his  glittering  arm- 
like  appendage,  all  eyes  being  riveted  in  the  direction  of  the  wonderful 
unexpected  guest  from  the  deep,  after  a  short  pause,  he  shouted,  eacb 
word  passing  over  the  voyagers  as  a  terrible  warning: 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  83 

"Remember !    Remember !    Remember ! 
That  even  ships,  so  wondrous  grand, 
With  four  huge  masts  or  more 
Can  never  tell,  when  leaving  land 
Their  sure  return  to  shore. 
Therefore  prepare  to  study  close  and  well, 
Aeolus  Neptune's  changing  moods  to  tell 
And  even  then,  your  great  wondrous  four  master 
The  Fates  may  overwhelm  with  storm's  disaster. 

"Noble  voyagers!  If  the  great  ship  should,  by  the  decrees  of  fate, 
be  overwhelmed  by  raging  billows,  I  will  be  pleased  to  meet  you  and 
greet  you  in  my  watery  realm  below,  and  promise  to  protect  you  from 
the  other  sea  monsters  of  the  deep." 

Loosening  his  hold  from  the  foremast  seaward  stay,  by  which  he 
had  held  himself  erect  with  his  long  arm-like  appendage,  he  suddenly 
slid  back  into  his  soft  watery  element. 

None  of  the  voyagers  rushed  to  look  over  the  ship's  side,  to  follow 
the  monster's  movements,  as  their  breeding  made  them  feel  it  was  not 
proper  to  display  too  much  curiosity.  Silence  followed  the  strange 
monster's  departure;  the  voyagers  looking  at  each  other  with  unknow 
ing,  bewildered  countenances.  Instead  of  having  a  heart  for  any  fate, 
a  spirit  of  deep  earnestness  and  apprehension  seemed  to  prevail.  Cap 
tain  Arteus  and  Pindarus,  one  of  the  committee  of  regulation  and  order, 
were  the  first  to  hold  converse  together ;  whereupon  Pindarus,  from  the 
ship's  rostrum,  called  out:  "Where  is  Scriborites,  Militos  and  Anaxo- 
gerous?"  The  three  scribes  stepped  forward  in  response  to  the  call. 
Pindarus  said :  "Under  the  spell  caused  by  this  strange  and  surprising 
occurrence,  which  we  have  just  experienced,  it  has  been  thought  advis 
able  to  inquire  of  you  scribes  before  it  may  be  too  late,  whether  this 
occurrence  has  been  entered  down  upon  your  scrolls  in  regular  order, 
to  be  a  part  of  the  record  scrolls  of  the  voyage."  Scriborites  replied: 

"I  must  admit  that  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  huge  sea  monster, 
with  wonderful  human  understanding,  even  more  than  human  in  mat 
ters  pertaining  to  the  sea,  that  the  shock  and  surprise  nearly  moved  me 
to  forget  my  path  of  duty.  But  upon  noticing  that  I  also  like  the  rest 
had  my  eyes  riveted  upon  the  monster,  it,  like  lightning,  passed  through 
my  head  that  some  one  ought  to  record  such  unheard  of  event,  upon 
which  I  immediately  became  conscious  of  the  fact  that  I  it  was  who 
should  perform  such  duty  and  I  immediately  sat  down,  with  greatest 
speed,  noted  what  had  passed  and  then  gave  my  closest  attention  to 
every  gesture,  action,  word  and  utterance  made  by  the  old  man  of  the 
sea,  as  he  was  pleased  to  call  himself,  although  I  fancied  him  to  be  a 
grandfather  of  all  the  mermaids  in  the  sea,  although  his  silvery,  scaly 
body  and  glistening  fresh,  dark  green  heavy  seaweed  hair,  whiskers  and 
mane,  did  not  indicate  agedness.  But  in  my  notes  which  will,  as  time 


84  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

permits,  be  artistically  inscribed  in  the  ship's  record  scrolls,  I  will  not 
call  him  grandfather  of  all  the  mermaids,  as  that  is  only  a  fancy  of 
mine,  and  my  duty  is  to  record  actual  facts  and  not  fancies.  Yes," 
said  Scriborites,  proudly  unrolling  the  scroll  which  he  held  in  his 
hand,  "it  is  noted." 

Pindarus  replied :  "  'Tis  well.  And  now  Scriborites,  I  have  more 
faith  than  ever  in  the  stories  that  often,  in  the  fiercest  battles,  you 
would  lay  yourself  down  almost  in  the  midst  of  the  fight,  noting  and 
sketching  the  acts  and  personages  of  the  bravest  warriors  of  both 
sides,  while  spears,  stones  and  arrows  from  the  strongest  catapult  were 
flying  above  and  around  you.  'Twas  that,  and  other  stories  of  your 
valor  as  a  scribe  that  recommended  you  as  a  fit  scribe  and  principal 
reporter  for  this  voyage.  And  nobly  have  you  upon  this  wonderful, 
unexpected,  unheard  of  occurrence,  performed  your  duty.  Militos  and 
Anaxogerous,  are  your  scrolls  also  embellished  with  the  event?"  They 
both  held  up  their  scrolls,  saying  that  the  sudden  occurrence  had  dis 
concerted  them  to  such  an  extent  that  their  description  of  the  surpris 
ing  event  was  far  from  satisfactory  to  themselves  and  very  meagre. 
They  had  only  looked  upon  it  as  a  matter  of  notation  after  the  old 
man  of  the  sea  had  returned  down  to  his  watery  realm.  "Hereafter," 
they  said,  "no  monster  of  the  deep,  however  large  or  dangerous  he  may 
be,  will  deter  us  from  doing  our  duty  as  scribes,  unto  death." 

"Scriborites,"  said  the  captain  in  his  determined,  short,  rough  voice, 
"this  is  not  the  time  for  your  assistants,  or  any  other  person  on  this 
ship  to  make  promises.  Promises  and  oaths  have  been  made  by  all  at 
the  time  of  acceptance  as  voyagers  of  this  expedition.  I  am  interested 
in  the  ship's  record  rolls  greatly,"  continued  the  captain.  "Scriborites, 
Militos,  Anaxogerous,  as  scribes,  take  warning  to  leave  out  all  fanciful 
ideas  you  may  hold,  but  strictly  record  actual  facts,  as  fully  and  minutely 
as  you  can.  Actual  facts.  For  it  is  I  upon  whom  all  real  responsibility 
rests.  The  huge  sea  monster,  appearing  on  the  bulwark  of  the  ship, 
was  indeed  startling,  but  we  should  not  allow  ourselves  to  be  discon 
certed  under  any  circumstances."  Anaxogoras  replied:  "As  I  have 
fully  overcome  my  fright,  I  can  say  that  Militos  and  I  are  not  expected 
to  note  events  during  the  presence  of  Scriborites,  and  as  to  myself,  I  am 
the  night  scribe." 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "  'Tis  true."  A  voice  called  down  from  the  cross 
trees:  "Look  out,  far  over  the  sea;  there  it  is,  way  out,  swimming 
towards  the  floating  tripod."  A  general  rush  to  the  side  of  the  ship, 
and  a  scramble  for  elevations  ensued,  many  climbing  the  masts  to  get 
a  good  glimpse  of  the  strange  sea  monster  again.  Out  in  the  distance,  his 
head  and  the  end  of  his  wide  tail  were  plainly  visible  above  the  water. 
With  great  speed  he  swam  directly  toward  the  floating  tripod,  from 
which  sweet  incense  was  wafting  out  over  the  sea.  Fears  were  enter- 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  85 

tained  that  he  would  destroy  it  and  all  eyes  watched  his  movements 
with  fearful  suspense.  When  within  touching  distance  he  stopped, 
eyeing  it  for  a  brief  moment,  then  swam  around  the  floating  tripod 
several  times  in  a  circle,  and  with  a  farewell-like  wave  of  his  arm-like 
appendage,  dove  down,  his  wide  tail  splashing  the  water  into  foam, 
and  was  never  seen  again. 

While  the  excitement  was  at  its  height,  Captain  Arteus,  Pindarus 
and  the  principal  officers  of  the  ship  held  a  confab  in  regard  to  the  lack 
of  order. 

The  captain  allowed  the  excitement  to  abate,  after  which  he  gave 
orders  to  the  officers  to  command  order.  Again  the  voyagers  felt  them 
selves  conscious  of  having  permitted  themselves  to  be  swayed  by  impulse, 
without  showing  the  least  display  of  self-control.  The  captain,  from 
his  place  of  command,  from  the  rear  elevation  near  the  helmsman,  said : 

"It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  speak  in  regard  to  this  great 
confusion,  rush  and  excitement  which  has  just  taken  place.  I  will  not 
single  out  any  one  person,  which  you  must  all  admit  would  be  quite 
impossible  to  do,  with  one  exception,  however ;  the  voyager  who 
first  called  down  from  the  mast,  took  upon  himself  the  voice  of  com 
mand  ;  and  this  hint,  I  know,  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  call  attention 
to  the  imperative  necessity  of  discipline — that  all  command-like  re 
marks  are  to  be  made,  given  only  by  the  officers  of  the  ship  with  a 
few  exceptional  cases  that  may  arise,  perhaps,  by  the  committee  of 
order.  As  Mr.  Philostenes  has  not  as  yet  held  his  farewell  address,  and 
rehearsed  the  ship's  rules  of  order,  although  they  are  already  known  to 
you  all,  I  will  not  dwell  on  the  matter  any  further,  excepting  to  say 
that  new,  unexpected,  wonderful,  as  well  as  dangerous  occurrences,  will 
happen  over  and  over  again  in  calm,  in  storm,  in  the  night  as  well  aa 
in  the  day  time.  That  under  all  circumstances  and  situations  self- 
control,  one  of  the  highest  virtues  of  a  true  Athenian,  should  be  dis 
played  prominently  at  all  times." 

A  general  earnestness  and  thoughtfulness  prevailed  among  all  on 
shipboard.  The  wonderful  appearance  and  utterances  of  the  huge, 
hairy,  glistening  sea  monster,  seemed  like  a  terrible  warning  of  the 
dangers  of  the  deep. 

"Your  great  four,  as  well  as  a  one-master, 
Subject  is,  to  the  fate  of  storm's  disaster. 

Of  the  whole  strange  occurrence,  these  words,  "Four  master,  storm's 
disaster,"  were  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  all  the  voyagers,  as  a  warn 
ing  or  evil  foreboding.  This  was  partly  counterbalanced  by  the  observ 
ance  that  the  monster,  after  inspecting  the  floating  tripod,  did  not 
destroy  or  even  disturb  it,  which  was  taken  as  a  very  favorable  omen. 
Gradually  the  whole  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Phalerum  were  crowded  with 


86  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

an  immense  throng  of  the  Athenian  populace,  eager  to  witness  the  de 
parture  of  the  grand  floating  palace  with  its  precious,  honored,  brave, 
noble  voyagers.  All  was  order  and  happy  enthusiasm  again  on  ship 
board.  The  captain  and  committee  on  rules  and  order  stood  in  their 
places  on  the  rear  elevation  near  the  helmsman.  In  the  meantime,  a 
large  number  of  tripods,  with  burning  incense  in  honor  of  the  gods, 
were  being  sent  out  on  the  sea  by  the  crowds  on  shore.  A  young 
maiden,  bearing  a  large,  beautiful  wreath  of  flowers,  was  escorted  by 
a  number  of  young  men  from  among  the  spectators  on  shore  to  the  side 
of  the  floating  wharf  and  asked  the  noble  families  for  whom  the  wharf 
was  reserved,  to  have  the  wreath  conveyed  up  to  the  voyagers  as  rep 
resenting  the  good  will  and  wishes  of  the  large  crowd  assembled  along 
the  shores.  The  beautiful  wreath  was  immediately  transferred  up  to  the 
ship  and  received  with  pleasure  by  the  committee  of  order.  The  bearer 
was  informed  that  in  a  short  time  the  captain  would  order  the  prin 
cipal  and  largest  flag  on  the  mainmast  to  be  hoisted  up  and  down  for 
a  certain  distance,  seven  times,  signifying  acceptance,  thanks  and  appre 
ciation  to  the  assembled  multitude  on  shore  for  their  good  wishes  and 
the  wreath  sent.  Attached  to  the  wreath  was  a  parchment  upon  which 
the  following  was  artistically  inscribed: 

"We  culled  these  flowers  of  Spring  for  you, 
Still  moistened  with  the  midnight  dew ; 
And  may  they  keep  in  memory,  green, 
Until  again  your  ship  is  seen, 
Back  to  its  native  shore." 

"With  prayers  to  the  Gods  and  best  wishes  from  all  true  Athenian 
hearts.  Signed,  THE  CROWD." 

Portonetus,  one  of  the  voyagers,  hastily  inscribed  on  a  small  leaf  of 
parchment,  which  was  handed  to  the  maiden  who  bore  the  wreath,  the 
following : 

"From  this  day,  on  which  we  sail, 
May  good  will  and  peace  prevail 
Among  you  all,  remaining  home ; 
While,  far,  o'er  distant  seas  we  roam, 
In  quest  of  wisdom,  wealth  and  fame, 
To  add  new  lustre  to  each  name, 
Of  Attic  or  Hellenic  birth, 
The  fairest,  noblest  of  the  earth." 

As  soon  as  the  multitude  on  shore  noticed  the  dipping  of  the  large 
flag  of  the  mainmast,  signifying  thanks  to  populace,  a  wild  cheering  of 
exultation  rose  all  along  the  shore.  This  was  responded  to  by  the 
voyagers  under  command  in  military  order,  by  striking  their  spears 
against  their  shields,  the  clashing  noise  of  which  resounded  over  bay 
and  shore. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  87 

"Athenians,  form  side  lines  in  fours!"  was  the  command  by  Com 
mander  Marstenes,  who  was  standing  at  the  captain's  side.  "Shield 
and  lance,  position !"  The  ladies  stood  in  rows  of  four  on  one  side  and 
the  men  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ship  with  shields  uplifted  as  if  in 
defense,  with  swords  in  right  hand.  The  order  proceeded:  "Clash 
shields  in  rhythmic  time,  to  the  song,  'Splash,  Splash,  Spalsh.' "  Upon 
a  signal,  the  full  chorus  sang : 

"Splash,  splash,  splash 
We're  sailing  o'er  the  sea, 
How  happy,  oh,  are  we. 
Where  rolling  billows  foam, 
Far  from  our  native  home. 
The  old  man  of  the  sea, 
Oh,  where,  oh,  where  is  he? 
He  is  far,  oh,  far  away, 
Below  the  dark  sea's  spray. 
Aeolus  wafts  us  on, 
We'll  praise  him  in  our  song, 
He's  Monarch  of  the  Air, 
He's  here,  and  now  he's  there; 
His  arms  so  strong  and  soft, 
Fill  all  our  sails  aloft. 
Fair  Neptune's  power,  we  know, 
Where  tide  and  ebb  doth  flow, 
His  rule  it  doth  extend 
To  the  wide  world's  very  end. 
Oh,  dark  blue,  surging  sea, 
Confederates  now  are  we, 
Confederates  now  are  we." 

At  the  close"  of  the  song,  accompanied  by  striking  of  the  shields,  a 
hearty  applause  arose  from  wharf  and  shore.  A  large  cake,  baked  from 
a  consistency  of  flour  and  Hymettus  honey,  representing  the  hull  of  the 
ship  Aeolus,  in  miniature,  with  masts  and  sails  and  a  small  golden 
anchor,  were  suspended  separately  to  public  view  from  the  ship's  rig 
ging,  not  far  above  the  deck.  The  size  of  the  golden  anchor  was  such 
that  it  could  only  be  seen  at  close  range.  While  the  miniature  cake 
ship  Aeolus  was  discernible  to  those  on  shore.  The  priest  of  Poseidon 
ascended  the  rostrum  in  the  center  of  the  deck,  along  side  of  which,  on 
command  of  Marstenes,  the  voyagers  marched  in  single  file,  men  and 
maidens  alternately,  each  halting  long  enough  to  receive  the  baptism  of 
the  sea — sea  water  sprinkled  on  the  heads  from  the  hands  of  the 
priest.  At  the  close  of  the  ceremony  the  priest  passed  from  the  ship 
over  to  the  high  rostrum  erected  along  the  side  of  the  ship  on  the 
wharf.  After  the  voyagers  had  given  an  exhibition  drill,  maidens  with 
bows  and  arrows  and  men  with  shields  and  lances,  going  through 
intricate  movements  and  attitudes  such  as  are  most  effective  in  de 
fensive  and  offensive  combat,  sword  fencing  being  among  the  number, 


88  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

elicited  enthusiastic  applause  from  the  spectators  on  the  wharf.  At 
the  close  of  the  drill  on  deck,  the  captain  gave  orders:  "Man  the 
yards  and  cross  trees,  at  pleasure,"  meaning  that  any  of  the  voyagers, 
men  and  maidens,  could  alternately  man  the  yards  and  cross  trees. 

The  voyagers  hurried  to  climb  the  ratlines.  In  an  orderly  rush  the 
yards  and  cross  trees  were  manned  with  a  large  number  of  the  men 
and  maiden  voyagers  in  alternate  order.  The  ladies  were  dressed  in 
their  athletic  uniforms,  with  tightly  fitting  green  trousers  and  red 
jackets.  The  heavy  topknotted  head  hair,  ornamented  with  sparkling 
jewels.  The  men  were  dressed  in  their  dark  blue  military  suits,  orna 
mented  with  large  and  small  burnished  bronze  broches,  their  heads 
protected  with  nobly  designed  helmets  of  burnished  bronze.  The  gay 
rainbow  flags,  waving  from  the  four  masts,  the  partly  loosened  top 
sails,  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  the  swaying  censers  bearing  incense,  at 
the  yard's  ends,  with  the  maidens  and  men  at  the  yards  and  cross- 
trees,  presented  a  brilliant  and  lively  scene  aloft.  The  breeze  had  in 
creased  to  such  a  degree  as  to  make  its  noise,  passing  through  the 
rigging,  audible.  "The  Prayer  to  Aeolus"  was  to  be  read  upon  the 
first  notable  sighing  of  the  wind. 

Corinna  ascended  the  rostrum  in  the  center  of  the  ship,  sur 
rounded  by  the  voyagers,  excepting  those  who  were  aloft,  and  after 
lighting  the  incense  in  the  tripod  standing  at  her  side,  she  read  from 
an  artistically  inscribed  scroll,  in  a  clear  voice,  distinctly  audible  to 
all  on  the  ship  and  wharf,  as  follows : 

PRAYER  TO  AEOLUS. 

Aeolus  great,  we  hear  thee  sigh 
In  the  rigging  low  and  high; 
Sadness  oft  dwells  in  your  strain, 
Sounds  of  sorrow  and  of  pain. 
Then  again,  as  if  in  joy, 
Like  a  happy,  whistling  boy, 
Strains  of  sweetness  come  and  go 
Through  the  rigging  high  and  low ; 
And  in  passing,  kiss  each  cheek, 
In  a  way  so  soft  and  meek. 
Oft  your  sighs,  oh,  seem  to  start 
From  the  depth  of  nature's  heart. 
Earnestness,  oft  deep  and  strong, 
Fills  the  burden  of  your  song. 
On  you  sweep,  o'er  sea  and  land, 
With  determination,  grand. 
Whence  from?    Or  whitherto? 
That  is  only  known  to  you. 
In  the  night,  when  all  alone, 
How  your  sighing  seems  to  moan; 
Fills  the  darkness  all  around 
With  a  wierd,  ominous  sound. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum 

When  the  tempests  roaring  loud, 
Lash  the  sea  to  foam,  and  crowd 
Wave  on  wave  with  vales  between, 
Then  your  power  supreme,  is  seen. 
When  a  calm  o'erspreads  the  deep, 
'Tis  a  sign  that  you're  asleep ; 
Resting  from  your  endless  flight, 
In  the  day  and  in  the  night. 
Unknown  lands  and  seas  you  roam, 
Everywhere  you  are  at  home. 
From  the  Northland's  ice  and  snow, 
Cold  and  chill,  the  breezes  blow ; 
And  from  Torrid  zones  you  bring 
Balm  and  warmth  upon  your  wing. 
Thus  you  mix  the  climes  at  will, 
Always  roving,  seldom  still. 
Blade  and  shrub  and  strongest  tree, 
In  thy  storms,  all  bow  to  thee, 
While  a-passing  on  your  way, 
Thus  acknowledging  your  sway. 
Energy  and  life  you  give 
To  all  things  that  grow  or  live. 
Countless  things  would  weaker  be 
If  it  were  not,  oh,  for  Thee. 
Trees,  their  roots  would  not  prolong, 
Calm  would  not  require  them  strong; 
And  the  fields  of  waving  grain, 
If  you  came  not,  would  complain. 
Seeds  of  plant  and  flow'r  and  tree, 
You  transplant  o'er  land  and  sea. 
Mankind,  too,  you  waft  around, 
Just  as  seeds,  to  other  ground, 
When  upon  the  oceans  wide 
Swept  by  gale  and  storm  and  tide, 
Far,  O,  far  from  native  hearth 
To  all  corners  of  the  earth. 
Thus,  your  mission  seems  to  be 
Spreading  life  o'er  land  and  sea. 
Please  accept  our  thanks  and  praise 
For  your  wise  and  willing  ways. 
Thus  our  proud  ship,  built  to  fame, 
We  have  honored  with  your  name. 
The,  "Aeolus,"  may  she  ride 
Safely  o'er  the  billowy  tide. 
God  of  Winds,  O,  we  implore, 
Waft  us  safely  from  this  shore 
O'er  the  deep  blue,  liquid  plain 
O'er  which  Neptune's  power  doth  reign. 
Our  great  ship  is  waiting  now, 
Anxiously  with  seaward  bow, 
For  its  master  to  command: 
"Loosen  all  the  ropes  on  land!" 
Like  a  proud,  high-spirited  steed, 
Danger  it  seems  not  to  heed. 
Partly  loosened  sails  on  high, 


90  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Fluttering  in  the  sunlit  sky, 

Adds  impatience  to  the  scene, 

But  the  captain's  thoughtful  mien 

Plainly  says :    "This  ship  will  sail, 

Undelayed,  with  favoring  gale, 

When  all  ceremony's  o'er, 

Then,  yes,  then,  and  not  before." 

Thy  airy  form,  Aeolus  dear, 

Although  around  and  always  near 

To  us,  is  ever  out  of  sight; 

We  see  Thee  not,  by  day  or  night, 

But  feel  thy  touch  and  see  the  things 

To  which  thy  power  lendeth  wings: 

The  clouds  above,  the  ships  on  sea 

And  countless  things  thus  moved  by  thee. 

Aeolus!   May  thy  tempests  be 

As  harmless  to  our  ship  on  sea 

As  favoring  gales  or  breezes  fair 

Or  Zephyrs  in  the  evening  air. 

As  an  off'ring,  oh,  to  Thee 
And  to  Neptune  of  the  sea, 
Censers  swinging  high  in  air 
Burning  incense,  pure  and  rare, 
Whose  perfume,  we  pray,  will  be 
Sweet  and  pleasing  unto  Thee, 
Sweet  and  pleasing  unto  Thee." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reading,  upon  a  signal  from  Corinna 
all  the  voyagers,  including  those  on  the  cross-trees  and  yards  aloft, 
accompanied  by  harp,  timbrel,  cymbal,  lute  and  lyre  on  deck,* joined  in 
a  grand  chorus,  singing  a  short  invocation  to  the  God  of  the  Winds,  all 
slightly  bowing  at  certain  places  in  the  song: 

"Aeolus !    Aeolus  !    Aeolus ! 
We  bow  to  Thee — We  bow  to  Thee, 
As  reverently  as  blade  or  tree, 
Acknowledging  your  power  and  sway; 
We  bow  to  Thee  by  night— by  day, 
And  pray,  O  waft  us  o'er  the  sea 
From  storm's  disasters  safe  and  free. 
We  bow  to  Thee — we  bow  to  Thee, 
Aeolus !   Aeolus !    Aeolus !" 

The  blending  of  the  beautiful,  strong  and  sweet  voices,  including 
those  aloft  on  the  cross-trees  and  yards,  was  a  highly  pleasing  and  sin 
gular  treat  to  all  the  spectators  on  the  wharf  and  shore.  The  sweet 
music  wafted  on  the  wings  of  Aeolus,  out  over  the  sea,  was  also 
highly  appreciated  and  enjoyed  by  those  in  the  triremes,  galleys  and 
numerous  small  boats  sporting  around  the  grand  ship  in  the  Bay  of 
Phalerum.  The  Captain  expressed  his  wish  to  have  the  athletic  and 
gymnastic  performances  which  were  to  follow,  in  which  both  the  youths 


The  Ship*s  Departure  from  Phalerum  91 

and  maidens  were  to  take  part,  omitted.  A  number  of  bars  swinging 
over  the  deck  from  the  rigging,  were  already  in  readiness. 

The  Captain  said:  "Aeolus  has  favored  us  wonderfully  with  a  most 
propitious  breeze  and  we  should  not  tax  his  kindness  too  long,  as  a 
slight  change  in  his  mood  might  cause  the  wind  to  change  to  another 
direction.  The  farewell  address  is  still  to  be  delivered."  The  Captain 
seemed  to  be  highly  impatient,  saying  that  the  opportunity  offered  by 
Aeolus  to  start  with  a  fair  breeze,  should  not  be  lost  by  delays,  if 
possible. 

The  committee  on  regulations  and  order  agreed  with  Captain  Arteus 
to  curtail  the  ceremonies  to  the  extent  of  dispensing  with  the  gymnastic 
performances.  It  was  agreed  to  conclude  the  exhibitions  by  a  rigging 
chase  and  a  water-walking  exhibition  which  was  to  be  followed  by  the 
farewell  address  to  b9  held  by  Philostenes. 

Hydroapede,  one  of  the  voyagers,  upon  request,  gave  a  water-walking 
exhibition  in  the  bay,  a  short  distance  from  the  bow  of  the  ship. 

He  was  clad  in  a  dark,  close-fitting  suit.  On  the  crown  of  his  head, 
and  under  his  feet  were  fastened  a  bladder,  obtained  from  a  large  fish. 
Also  two  canes  which  he  required  to  assist  him  in  walking  on  the  water 
also  had  a  fish  bladder  attached  to  the  lower  end  of  each.  Hydroapede 
first  slid  down  a  rope  onto  the  floating  wharf  and  then  walked  out  upon 
the  water  with  a  cane  in  each  hand.  He  walked  to  and  fro  upon  the 
water,  with  apparent  ease  and  with  great  rapidity,  and  successfully 
challenged  the  best  single  rowboat  as  to  speed.  His  pace,  in  walking 
over  the  water,  was  such  that  it  might  be  called  running.  Going  through 
a  number  of  acrobatic  performances  to  the  delight  of  the  multitude  of 
spectators,  turning  summersaults  and  the  like,  concluding  his  exhibition 
by  standing  on  his  head  in  the  water,  aided  by  a  cane  in  each  hand.  He 
then  walked  rapidly  back  to  the  wharf  where  he  was  received  with 
cheers  and  unexpectedly  crowned  with  a  wreath  by  one  of  the  nobles  on 
the  wharf. 

The  water-walking  exhibition  over,  a  Rigging  Chase  followed.  Seven 
maidens  on  each  of  the  four  masts  ascended  the  rigging  and  seven  young 
men  on  each  mast  were  to  try  to  follow  and  touch  them  before  a  small 
sand  time-piece  filled  its  lower  case.  A  lively,  exciting  chase  it  was,  up 
and  down  the  ratlines,  out  upon  the  yards,  sliding  down  ropes  here  and 
there  with  their  followers  in  pursuit.  Two  of  the  young  maidens,  both 
of  whom  were  allowed  to  take  their  positions  in  the  rigging,  before  the 
order  to  follow  was  given,  swiftly  slid  down  a  thin  rope  suspended  from 
the  end  of  the  highest  square  sail  yard,  tying  a  foot  loop  in  the  same, 
thus  both  of  them,  from  different  yards,  standing  with  one  foot  in  the 
loop,  were  swaying  at  a  perilous  height.  Their  pursuers  intended  in  the 
excitement  to  also  slide  down  the  same  suspended  rope,  touch  them  and 
climb  up  to  the  yards  again.  But  the  Captain,  with  the  full  voice  at  his 


92  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

command,  called  out :  "Don't  follow  down  on  the  ropes,  they  will  break ! 
tear !  They  are  barely  strong  enough  to  hold  the  maidens." 

This  is  what  the  maidens  had  expected.  The  ropes  would  certainly 
have  parted  if  the  young  men  should  have  attempted  to  touch  them 
by  sliding  down  the  thin  ropes.  Hanging  suspended  in  the  ropes  until 
the  upper  case  of  the  sand  time-piece  was  empty  the  two  maidens,  as 
well  as  some  of  the  other  maidens,  stepped  forth  as  victors  in  the 
Rigging  Chase. 

The  dexterity  and  daring-  displayed  by  the  young  maidens  and 
men  caused  great  apprehension  and  fear  among  those  on  the  floating 
wharf,  to  whom  the  conclusion  of  the  rigging  chase  was  a  great  relief. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  rigging  chase,  Philostenes  stepped  forth 
from  among  the  nobles  on  the  wharf  and  ascended  the  rostrum,  erected 
on  the  wharf  along  the  ship's  side,  to  deliver  his  farewell  address  to 
the  voyagers.  Diontes,  who  also  ascended  the  rostrum  with  Philostenes, 
arose  and  introduced  Philostenes  as  follows: 

"Brave,  Noble  Voyagers!     Noble  Athenians! 

"Athene !    Source  of  Attic  thought,  profound, 
Whose  special  favors  made  our  race  renowned 
For  men  whose  visions  rise  high,  far  and  clear 
Above  the  bards  of  other  lands.     We  here, 
'Tis  known,  have  many  of  the  Homer  kind. 
All  great  events,  'tis  said,  will  great  men  find 
To  fill  each  honored  place.    On  this  great  day, 
Philostenes,  our  bard,  will  have  his  say; 
Will  hold  the  farewell  speech.     He  is  the  choice 
Unanimous,  as  if  with  one  great  voice, 
Of  all  our  poets,  bards,  seers — of  his  peers; 
A  favored  of  the  Gods,  with  length  of  years, 
Will  speak  the  last  farewell !    'Twill  surely  please 
You  all,  to  listen  to  Philostenes."  (Great  applause.) 

PHILOSTENES'  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

Tall,  erect,  with  aquiline  nose,  long,  heavy  gray  streaked  beard  and 
hair,  Philostenes  represented  the  venerable,  typical  Athenian  that  he 
was.    Turning  to  the  crowd  on  the  wharf,  and  then  to  the  voyagers  on 
the  ship,  he  said :    "Athenians !    Voyagers !    Noble  adventurers ! 
"He  who  sang  so  wondrously  of  fallen  Troy, 
The  muse's  friend,  with  sadness  and  with  joy ; 
Oh,  would  that  he  were  here  but  for  this  day ; 
As  endless  as  the  ocean's  song,  his  lay 
In  flowing  measures  would  resound,  relate 
In  words  of  praise,  your  venture  and  your  fate. 
Oh,  would  that  from  the  shades  he  could  appear, 
Behold  this  scene,  our  ship's  departure  here; 
Oh  Homer !   With  reverence  deep,  we  speak  his  name, 
Its  lustre  ever  adds  to  Hellas'  fame. 
God-gifted  Bard;   his  catalogue  of  ships 
Recalls  each  one,  as  wave  to  wave  it  dips 


a    - 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  93 

Its  onward  course,  fair  Helen  to  regain. 

Minutely  thus,  of  all  the  noble  train, 

Ulysses  brave,  the  sailor  of  sailors,  he 

Whose  fateful  homeward  voyage  o'er  the  sea 

The  Bard  recalls,  rehearsed  in  his  own  way, 

Unmatched,  unmatchable  unto  this  day. 

If  he  but  could  behold  this  daring  scene, 

Its  noble,  fairy  grandeur — what  a  theme! 

A  theme,  event,  full  worthy  of  the  sage, 

By  Homer  sung,  would  pass  from  age  to  age, 

From  tongue  to  tongue ;   from  clime  to  clime, 

Until  the  end  of  man,  the  end  of  time. 

Wise  Homer!    Greatly,  oh,  would  he  have  wondered 

This  ship  so  grand,  with  its  brave  fair  Four  Hundred. 

Most  charming,  noble  of  our  Grecian  race, 

Your  lineage,  to  our  Gods,  he'd  trace. 

"Fearless  Adventurers!  Noble  Athenians!  How  much  could  be  said 
upon  this  most  auspicious  day, — this  great  event, — this  great  noble 
adventure  for  which  this  day  serves  as  a  beginning !  From  sunrise  to 
sunset,  verily,  would  not  encompass  sufficient  time  necessary  to  enter 
upon  the  importance  of  the  noble  proposed  adventure.  The  presence  of 
all  Athens  here,  to  witness  this  day's  event,  is  an  indication  of  its 
beauty,  grandeur  and  importance.  As  Phoebus  stayeth  not  in  his  course, 
and  your  brave  Captain  has  intimated  to  me  that  the  ship  is  ready,  and 
that  the  good  will  of  Aeolus  and  Neptune,  giving  such  fair  winds  and 
pleasant  seas,  should  not  be  lost  by  delays  if  possible,  I  must  proceed 
without  unnecessary  delay. 

"Your  experienced  captain,  with  a  happy  countenance,  greeted  me  at 
dawn,  saying:  'Wonderful,  wonderful;  the  wind  is  from  the  northeast, 
is  fair,  and  weather  pleasant,  just  as  the  Oracle  of  Delphi  prophesied. 
Wonderful,  most  invariably,'  the  captain  said,  'the  wind  is  from  the 
opposite  direction  at  this  springtime  of  the  year,'  and  he  said  it  was  a 
very  good  omen.  An  omen  of  great  moment  and  encouraging  beginning. 
In  conversation  with  Captain  Arteus,  upon  a  time,  he  said  that  he  would 
rather  have  the  ocean  spray  dash  in  his  face  than  the  land  dust  in  his 
eyes.  Of  your  Captain's  ability,  I  could  only  speak  in  superlatives.  In 
many  ways  this  is  a  propitious  season  for  the  ship  to  sail  on  its  im 
portant  mission.  The  Pleiades  are  making  their  appearance  in  the 
eastern  blue  vault  above  which  I  am  told  by  seamen  is  always  a  happy 
sign,  inviting  them  out  to  sea.  And  in  referring  to  the  stars,  I  hope 
your  ship  will  have  returned  again  before  the  sun  enters  Capri- 
cornus,  in  the  southwest.  As  Phosbus  is  climbing  towards  the  zenith 
and  the  wind  is  gradually  gaining  in  strength,  it  is  meet  for  me  to  hasten 
and  limit  my  remarks  to  the  shortest  time  possible,  consistent  with  the 
request  made  by  those  nearest  and  dearest  to  you,  and  with  the  line 
of  action  laid  out  by  your  committee.  Many  of  us  Athenians,  whose 
hair  is  quite  tinged  with  gray  would  like  to  participate  in  this  great 


94  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

adventure.  Bat  the  decision  that  only  such  of  our  class  who  have  just 
entered  the  realm  of  manhood  and  womanhood  should  be  allowed  to 
participate,  I  admit  to  be  a  wise  one.  The  saying  originated  by  some 
philosopher  long  since  dead:  'Old  men  for  counsel  and  young  men  for 
battle,'  is  also  very  applicable  upon  this  occasion,  but  I  may  remark 
although  youth  is  endowed  with  superior  strength,  enthusiasm  and 
courage,  which  are  all  strong  factors,  I  can  say  that  old  age,  although 
lacking  these,  also  has  one  faculty  of  strength  which  the  young  have 
not,  namely :  the  wisdom  of  experience.  The  abundantly  silver-haired, 
as  you  see,  has  been  selected  to  hold  the  farewell  address  upon  your 
departure  to  those  crowned  with  blonde,  golden  or  black  hair. 

Those  to  whom  you  are  most  dear, 
Sought  me  to  address  you  here. 

"Athenians,  most  of  my  remarks  will  touch  upon  matters  which  are 
already  well  known  to  you.  The  class  to  which  you  belong,  with  its 
high  intelligence  makes  that  a  self -supposed  fact.  I  have  been  requested 
by  those  remaining  at  home  to  rehearse  the  rules  and  regulations  of 
order  which  are  to  be  observed  on  the  ship  and  such  other  matters  as 
I  may  consider  germane  to  the  occasion.  The  rules  and  regulations 
of  order  have  originated  from  three  sources,  first  those  formulated  by 
the  Captain ;  secondly,  by  yourselves ;  and  thirdly,  by  those  remaining  at 
home,  by  the  aid  of  whom  the  construction  of  the  great  floating  wonder 
has  been  made  possible. 

"I  do  now,  in  the  name  of  all  Greece,  thank  all  who  aided  in  the  con 
struction  of  the  great  Aeolus. 

"Rule  One — The  Captain  has  the  full  command  of  the  ship.  He  is  the 
court  of  last  resort  in  all  disputes.  He  is  king,  as  it  were,  of  the  floating 
castle.  Ithobal,  the  Phoenician,  has  pointed  out  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  captain  of  a  ship  should  have  kingly  power.  We 
certainly  regret  that  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal  cannot  be  with  us 
this  day,  to  behold  the  departure  of  the  Aeolus.  The  events  of  a  day 
pass  away  like  wave  upon  wave.  So,  too,  this  beautiful,  magnificent  scene 
before  us,  the  great  ship  Aeolus,  will  sail  out  of  sight,  before  the  sun 
sets  in  the  west.  The  acts  of  a  day  may  pass  away,  but  the  remembrance 
of  them,  especially  such  a  magnificent  scene  as  the  one  upon  which  we 
feast  our  eyes  at  the  present  moment,  will  pleasantly  linger  in  our 
minds  to  the  last  of  our  days. 

"In  regard  to  the  ship's  rules  of  order,  I  will  only  allude  to  them  in 
part,  as  your  committee  of  rules  and  order  will,  as  occasion  requires, 
recall  them  to  your  memory.  The  rules  against  remaining  on  deck 
during  hours  after  dark,  are  for  the  reason  that  amongst  young  people, 
ideas  of  what  is  proper  and  what  is  improper  in  the  dark,  are  very  apt 
to  become  confused  and  mixed. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  95 

"Noble  Maidens !  Your  ideas  of  nobility  and  your  strength,  wisdom 
and  exalted  characters,  are  your  principal  chaperons.  Self-control  must 
reside  upon  your  ship,  even  so  far  as  controlling  your  dreams.  The  ship's 
course — whither  does  it  sail,  lead?  The  course  your  ship  is  to  sail,  and 
the  cities  your  are  to  land  at,  has  been  planned  principally  by  Captain 
Arteus.  The  course  aid  out,  barring  unforeseen  events,  you  will  notice 
to  be  in  harmony  with  the  advice  given  by  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal 
in  his  address  at  the  Agora,  which  it  must  be  admitted  awakened  the 
commercial  spirit  among  us  Athenians.  The  information  in  regard  to 
ports  suitable  for  landings,  has  been  obtained  from  various  sources  and 
required  a  great  deal  of  research ;  but  to  follow  the  plan,  as  laid  out, 
may  perhaps  be  found  still  more  difficult.  Captain  Arteus  and  the 
committee  on  Commerce,  with  a  majority  of  the  voyagers,  have  a  right 
to  change  the  course  according  to  the  demands  of  circumstances.  The 
advice  given  by  Ithobal  to  keep  far  from  the  coast  near  which  a  city, 
called  Rome,  is  built,  has  been  prominently  noted  on  the  plan  illustrat 
ing  the  ship's  course.  This  so-called  city  of  Rome,  it  is  claimed,  is  very 
ambitious  to  subjugate  surrounding  cities  and  lands  under  its  sway. 
Therefore  it  will  be  wise  to  make  diligent  inquiry  at  the  various  land 
ings  where — in  what  direction — that  city  is  situated,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  heed  the  advice  given;  also  the  advice  to  steer  out  of  sight  of  as 
many  ships  as  possible,  thus  keeping  our  commercial  designs  from  being 
known  to  other  cities.  The  sight  of  this  grand  wonder-ship  will  imme 
diately  call  forth:  'What  nation's  ship?  Whence?  Whither?  and  its 
purpose?'  Where'er  the  ship  may  land  and  be  seen  by  human  eyes,  its 
wonderful  proportions  will  be  rehearsed  from  generation  to  generation, 
in  many  lands  and  in  many  strange  tongues,  as  The  Floating  Wonder 
Ship.  Our  friend  Ithobal  also  warned  us  not  to  permit  our  ships  to 
sail  in  the  direction  and  vicinity  of  Carthage,  which  city  he  said  is  a 
powerful,  progressive  and  ambitious  Phoenician  city,  ambitious  to  be 
come  a  great  mart  of  trade.  Few  ships,  once  seen  by  the  Carthaginians 
ever  return  to  their  native  shores  again. 

"Our  Phoenician  friend,  be  it  remembered,  was  highly  pleased  by  the 
attention  shown  to  him  during  his  sojourn  in  Athens  and  it  was  his 
sincere  friendship  coupled  with  admiration  for  our  philosophy  and  art, 
which  prompted  him  to  emphasize  to  us  the  high  importance  of  Com 
merce.  Thus,  not  only  for  your  own  welfare  and  safety,  but  also  in  con 
sideration  of  the  valuable,  friendly  and  unselfish  advice  conferred,  should 
his  warning  and  wishes,  to  keep  far  away  from  Carthage  and  out  of  the 
sight  of  Phoenician  ships,  be  steadfastly  honored. 

"We  have  heard  of  huge  rock-bound  shores,  the  distance  of  which  is 
so  great  as  to  make  them  almost  belong  to  fable.  It  is  these  huge  rock- 
bound  shores,  especially  the  two  large  rocks  called  by  seamen  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  that  set  a  limit  to  your  ship's  course  westward. 


96  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

The  Pillars  of  Hercules  form  the  western  boundary  of  the  Mediterranean 
Sea.  The  Aeolus  remains  within  this  sea,  by  which  its  voyage  is  nat 
urally  circumscribed.  At  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  the  narrow  strip  of 
water,  called  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  connects  the  Mediterranean  Sea 
with  the  western  waters  of  the  world — a  stormy,  dangerous,  unknown 
ocean  which  extends  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

"Our  flat  world  is  surfaced  with  water,  plains,  valleys  and  mountains. 
If  we  could  fly  many,  many  times  higher  than  the  keen-visioned  hawk, 
the  mountains  on  account  of  the  vast  distance  to  which  the  flat  earth 
extends,  would  not  seem  so  high  comparatively,  as  they  do  now.  We 
also,  if  not  too  far  distant  from  the  edge  of  the  world,  would  see  heavy 
mists  arising  from  the  fathomless  abyss  at  the  world's  side ;  arising  and 
forming  into  clouds  over  the  earth. 

"But  I  must  not  take  time  to  picture  to  you  the  appearance  of  the 
wide,  flat  earth,  to  reach  the  end  of  which  would  lead  to  complete  anni 
hilation. 

"The  gods  have  decreed  that  to  all  such  whose  inquisitiveness  makes 
them  determined  to  visit,  reach  and  explore  places, — lands  before  which 
the  Gods  have  placed  barriers  which  warn  the  most  daring  of  human 
kind :  'So  far,  and  no  farther'  to  all  such — destruction  awaits  in 
terrible  forms.  Your  path  leads  over  the  waters  of  the  flat  earth  inside 
of  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  to  its  far-off,  distant,  almost  unheard  of 
western  shores.  If,  by  the  favor  of  the  Gods,  you  arrive  at  the  far-off 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  I  can  realize  how  your  hearts  will  leap  for  joy  and 
your  voices,  in  melodious  song,  will  thank  the  Gods,  when  Captain 
Arteus  commands  the  helmsman  to  turn  the  ship  about  so  that  its  prow 
points  to  the  rising  sun,  in  the  direction  of  your  beloved  Athens  again. 
Sweet  will  be  the  swishing  and  splashing  noise  of  the  waters  at  the 
prow,  as  the  ship  speeds  through  the  liquid  blue  homeward  bound.  When 
the  event  of  turning  the  ship  about,  at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  takes 
place,  special  incense  should  be  burned  and  sacrifice  given  to  the  Gods, 
mingled  with  songs  of  praise  for  the  successful  completion  of  fully  one- 
half  of  the  ship's  voyage.  It  is  known  to  you  all  that  the  ship  will 
return  on  its  homeward  journey  whenever  over  three-quarters  of  your 
number  make  your  desire  to  that  effect  known  to  the  captain.  If,  how 
ever,  the  Captain  does  not  agree,  it  shall  require  over  eight-ninths  of 
your  number  to  overrule  the  Captain. 

RECORDS. 

"An  important  committee  also  is  the  Committee  on  Records,  which 
consists  of  the  Scribes,  Scriborites,  Militos  and  Anaxogerous.  These  three, 
fcs  true  disciples  of  Clio,  have  taken  an  oath  that  they  singly  and  col 
lectively  will  record  actual  facts  and  occurrences  as  they  come  to  pass 
from  time  to  time.  Events  of  the  voyage  will  be  noted  night  and  day. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  97 

Anaxogerous  will  remain  on  deck  nights,  Scriborites  being  the  day 
scribe.  Besides  the  several  committees,  Hypnothoon  has  been  appointed 
by  natural  selection  as  the  Nestor  of  the  voyage,  and  will  be  known  as 
Nestor.  His  advice  is  to  be  listened  to  and  sought  for  when  matters 
of  special  importance  are  to  be  decided  by  the  committees.  He  holds 
the  position  of  adviser  (counsellor)  at  large,  as  it  were.  Poly  bus,  your 
magician  and  seer,  will  undoubtedly,  with  his  sensitive  and  subtle  mind 
divine  things  through  the  flight  of  birds,  moving  of  clouds,  as  well  as 
through  countless  other  ways  that  will  be  of  great  service  to  you. 
Theognis,  who,  besides  speaking  the  greater  number  of  languages,  has 
the  gift  of  interpreting  the  meaning  of  pantomime  or  the  so-called 
gesture  language  to  an  uncommon  degree.  His  gift  of  interpreting  ges 
ture  language  will  be  found  of  especial  value  in  far-off  lands,  as  you 
cannot  understand  their  spoken  language.  It  is  well  known  to  you  that 
several  of  your  artist-voyagers  will  sketch  and  paint  notable  scenes  that 
present  themselves  upon  your  voyage,  which  upon  your  return,  will  be 
beheld  by  all  of  us  Athenians  at  home  with  mental  profit  and  delight." 

At  this  juncture  Themostondus,  one  of  the  nobles  on  the  wharf, 
ascended  the  ladder  leading  up  to  the  rostrum,  and  placed  a  small  casket, 
ark-box,  on  the  speaker's  stand.  After  a  short  interruption,  Philostenes 
continued : 

"It  was  supposed  that  this  small  ark  had  already  been  taken  on 
shipboard;  it  contains  many  very  small,  light,  beautifully  embossed, 
bronze  medals.  One  side  portrays  the  grand  ship  Aeolus.  On  the  other 
side  is  inscribed  'The  Four  Hundred  of  Athens.'  These  medals,  which  are 
fastened  to  a  silken  cord,  as  is  well  known  to  all  of  you,  are  to  be  worn 
around  your  necks,  next  to  your  bodies.  Quiraltes  and  Sonnia  will 
distribute  them  among  you  and  after  you  have  all  donned  them,  as  in 
tended,  I  shall  hasten  with  my  remarks." 

After  a  short  interval  of  time,  Philostenes  proceeded :    "Adventurers ! 
You  will  certainly  pass  through  many  vicissitudes,  see  many  unheard  of, 
wonderful  things ;  but  no  matter  how  far  from  your  beloved  Athens  you 
may  sail,  never  allow  such  new  surroundings  to  distract  your  minds,  nor 
lose  sight  of  the  object  of  your  voyage — Commerce.    All  other  matters 
and  events  which  may  take  place  should  be  looked  upon  merely  as  inci 
dents  in  connection  with  your  grand  object:  COMMERCE.     Remember 
what  our  Phoenician  friend,  Ithobal,  said: 
A  nation,  to  be  grand, 
Must  rule  on  Sea  and  Land. 

"The  next  greatest  honor  to  being  a  citizen  of  Athens  is  that  of  being 
a  citizen  of  the  world;  to  which  honor  the  honor  of  being  regarded  as 
such  this  voyage  also  entitles  you. 

"To  a  large  multitude  of  our  Hellenic  people,  the  object  of  having 
women  accompanying  the  adventure  as  voyagers  seems  to  be  incompre- 


98  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

hensible.  The  idea  that  woman  has  no  intellect,  comparatively  speak 
ing,  and  that  their  activities  should  be  circumscribed  to  a  narrow,  never- 
changing  limit,  does  not  prevail  among  our  exclusive  set.  Our  maidens 
have  been  raised  and  taught  to  know  and  to  do,  so  as  to  be  the  equal 
of  their  brothers  as  nearly  as  the  gods  will  permit. 

"Of  the  power  and  influence  of  women — on  that  theme  I  could  dwell 
until  the  wind  would  have  changed  its  course  many  times,  which,  with 
the  propitious  prevailing  breeze,  is  not  desirable. 

"I  only  need  to  allude  to  the  beautiful  Helen  of  Troy,  for  whom  the 
bravest  of  heroes  died  and  nations  warred;  the  queen  of  Sheba,  the 
gifted  Sappho,  Queen  Dido — but  I  must  cease  mentioning  the  names  of 
all  the  illustrious  women;  as  it  would  be  a  severe  strain  on  Captain 
Arteus'  patience.  Man  or  woman  singly  cannot  obtain  the  full  enjoy 
ment  of  the  beautiful  of  this  flat  earth.  But  each,  in  the  presence  of  the 
other,  man  and  woman,  each  beholding,  expressing  wonder  and  admira 
tion  of  a  beautiful  scene  before  them,  brings  appreciation,  wonder  and 
delight  to  its  complete  full  measure.  Man  and  woman  is  the  whole. 
Each  singly,  only  a  part.  The  wonderful  and  beautiful  cannot  delight 
a  part  as  fully  as  the  whole.  The  influence  of  women,  although 
unknown  and  unseen  by  the  populace,  has  inspired  chieftains  and  war 
riors  to  victory  and  led  kings  to  the  building  of  great  empires.  Few,  if 
any,  are  the  great  events  in  which  wise  women  have  not  played  an  im 
portant  part.  So,  too,  in  this  grand  commercial  adventure,  it  has  been 
wisely  decided  that  women  should  participate  therein. 

"It  is  true,  the  manuscript  containing  the  Delphic  oracles  which  is 
among  the  ship's  record  rolls,  shows  that  King  Ulysses  of  ancient 
Ithaca,  who  was  one  of  the  heroes  engaged  in  the  Siege  of  Troy  and 
who,  on  account  of  his  varied  experience  while  on  his  return  trip  to 
Ithaca,  is  classed  as  the  greatest  sailor  of  all  time;  it  is  true,  in  his 
answer  from  the  shades  below,  in  response  to  the  questions  asked  by 
the  Delphic  seer  as  to  the  most  propitious  day  upon  which  your  great 
Bhip  should  depart,  upon  its  voyage,  he  says  : 

'With  the  sailor's  voice,  short,  gruff  though  clear; 
Sail  on,  my  boys!   Sail  on,  no  fear! 
What !   Yes,  I  see  at  Athens'  strand 
A  monster  ship,  amazing,  grand. 
Why,  yes,  with  lots  of  maidens  too, 
Look  here,  dear  boys,  'twill  never  do.' 

"And  further  on,  in  his  answers  from  the  shades  below,  he  says : 

'Yes,  my  answer  shall  be  given, 

But  those  beauties  dream  of  Heaven, 

They  intend  to  sail  along? 

Well  now,  boys,  that  does  seem  strong/ 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  99 

"But  seemingly,  realizing  the  high  standing,  beyond  comparison,  of 
the  personnel  comprising  our  ship's  voyagers,  Ulysses  proceeds : 

'Centuries  'tis  since  I've  been 
Interviewed  by  living  men; 
And  your  ways  may  different  be 
Since  the  moons  I  sailed  the  sea.' 

Thus  indicating  that  if  Ulysses  were  with  us  here  today,  he  would  not 
say: 

'Look  here,  dear  boys,  'twill  never  do.' 

"We  can  infer  that  Ulysses  became  conscious  of  the  fact  that  your 
wisdom,  honor  and  exalted  characters  are  your  protecting  chaperons.  I 
again  will  revert  to  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal,  whom  we  must  rec 
ognize  as  an  authority  on  things  commercial.  He  said:  'To  get  a  cer 
tain  class  of  the  most  intelligent  citizens,  including  women,  interested  in 
commerce,  is  necessary  towards  achieving  success.  In  Tyre,  as  well  as 
in  Sidon  also,  the  principal  theme  of  conversation  in  the  family  is  on 
matters  of  trade,  barter,  commerce.  The  children  of  the  Phoenician 
marts  of  trade — the  cities  of  Sidon  and  Tyre,'  said  Mr.  Ithobal,  'learn 
the  art  of  trading  as  they  grow  up,  from  their  parents.  Yes,  even  be 
fore  they  are  full  grown  they  are  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  commerce 
and  are  graduated  merchants.' 

"From  the  daily  conversation  of  their  parents  they  hear  the  names 
of  and  become  acquainted  with  the  various  wares  and  articles  of  mer 
chandise  which  are  most  in  demand  and  most  desirable,  suitable  for 
exchange  for  gold,  silver  or  barter.  Value !  Gain !  Profit !  These  are 
the  great  incentives  that  call  forth  and  claim  the  entire  energies  of  these 
tradespeople,  thus  enlarging  their  wisdom  in  such  matters,  from  genera 
tion  to  generation,  resulting  in  the  building  up  of  those  two  large,  power 
ful  and  wealthy  Phoenician  cities  of  Tyre  and  Sidon.  Our  friend  Ithobal 
also  intimated  to  me  that  Athenian  sculptors,  poets,  artists,  orators  and 
philosophers  were  undoubtedly  famous  because  their  whole  hearts  were 
in  their  vocation  to  such  an  extent  of  enthusiasm  and  earnestness  as  to 
make  their  achievements  appear  as  if  they  were  wrought  or  called  forth 
by  inspiration.  Thus,  also,  said  our  friend,  'it  requires  deep  earnest 
ness,  interest  and  diligence  to  succeed  in  commerce.' 

"Our  friend  also  gave,  as  his  opinion,  that  with  all  due  deference  to 
their  very  superior  wisdom  in  all  other  matters  many  of  the  Phoenician 
youths  could  outwit  our  poets,  artists,  sculptors,  orators  and  philoso 
phers  in  matters  of  trade  or  barter,  the  result  of  having  been  born  and 
bred  in  an  atmosphere  which  was,  as  it  were,  permeated  with  a  spirit  of 
commerce. 

"That  our  pure,  clear  Athenian  air  was  in  part  the  cause,  and  ex 
erted  a  favorable  influence  on  the  incomparably  high  status  of  Athenian 


100  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

culture,  was  his  earnest  belief.  It  is  true  that  our  artists,  poets,  philoso 
phers,  and  those  who  are  engaged  in  vocations  of  a  refining  nature,  those 
who  have  exerted  a  power  of  enlightenment,  refinement  and  culture  upon 
us  all,  look  with  a  sort  of  disdain  upon  barter  and  trade,  the  object  of 
which  they  say  is  the  mere  accumulating  of  filthy  lucre.  I  know  whereof 
I  speak,  for  I  had  myself, — whose  vocation  and  efforts  are  directed  and 
connected  with  higher  themes, — to  which  I  shall  actively  return  after  I 
have  concluded  this  pleasant  duty — entertained  the  same  opinion  to 
its  fullest  extent.  It  was  only  through  the  influence  of  Ithobal,  whose 
company  I  had  the  pleasure  of  sharing  and  who  related  his  distant 
travels  very  entertainingly, — he  who  had  been  upon  the  grounds,  or  upon 
the  sea  rather,  called  my  attention  and  convinced  me  in  his  clear, 
plain,  matter-of-fact  way  of  the  power  and  wealth  securable  through 
the  interchange  of  wares  with  distant  peoples.  He  said: 

'In  distant  lands  wealth  lies  around, 
Above,  and  deep  below  the  ground; 
It  only  needs  a  daring  heart, 
"Tis  such,  secure,  of  wealth  a  part.' 

"From  the  thought  I  have  given  the  subject  I  have  formed  the  opinion 
that  the  ennobling  arts  of  refinement  and  culture  can  live  side  by  side 
with  commerce,  to  their  mutual  benefit,  progress  and  welfare.  Culture 
will  not  flee  at  the  sight  of  Commerce.  We  have  heard  of  Tyre  as  being 
a  city  of  merchants  and  sea-faring  men ;  also  that  a  business  spirit  per 
vades  its  entire  community,  including  its  women  and  even  children. 
Therefore  it  was  wisely  agreed,  which  is  well  known  to  you,  that  the 
commercial  voyagers  accompanying  this  adventure  should  consist  of 
young  men  and  an  equal  number  of  maidens,  belonging  to  our  noble 
families  of  Athens,  thus,  in  the  future,  to  secure  to  our  city  families  that 
are  imbued  with  a  true  commercial  spirit,  so  that  in  time  strangers  can 
also  say  that  besides  being  the  most  cultured  city  that  it  is  also  an  im 
portant  mart  of  nations ;  and,  as  of  the  Phoenicians,  that  its  merchants 
are  princes,  whose  traffickers  are  the  honorable  of  the  earth.  The  families 
can  teach  their  children,  as  do  the  Phoenicians:  'He  that  is  diligent 
in  his  business,  shall  not  stand  among  mean  men ;  he  shall  stand  before 
kings.' 

"The  heroism  and  enthusiasm  shown  by  our  maiden  voyagers  for  the 
cause  of  Commerce  has  justly  been  a  source  of  pride  for  your  noble 
sires.  Let  me  now,  as  it  just  strikes  my  mind,  in  a  short  manner  revert 
to  Ulysses,  who,  on  his  homeward  voyage  from  Troy  to  his  beloved 
Ithaca,  also  landed  on  a  fair  isle,  on  which  dwell  Aeolus,  the  GocJ  of 
the  Winds.  Aeolus  discerned  by  the  wisdom,  noble  bearing  and  com 
manding  presence  of  Ulysses  that  he  was  of  finer  texture  than  common 
mortals.  Entertaining  a  friendly  feeling  for  Ulysses,  Aeolus  had  the 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  Ml 

adverse  winds  bound  in  large  bags  on  deck,  thus  insuring  fair  breezes 
for  Ulysses'  homeward  voyage.  Ulysses'  warrior  sailors,  suspecting  that 
the  large  bags  contained  spoils  from  Troy,  to  a  large  share  of  which 
they  felt  themselves  rightfully  entitled,  upon  the  first  opportunity,  while 
Ulysses  lay  asleep,  untied  the  bags,  when  immediately  loud  roaring 
winds  escaped  therefrom  and  in  place  of  fair  winds  the  adverse  winds 
asserted  themselves,  which  with  storms  caused  shipwrecks.  And  how 
many,  many,  many  moons  waxed  and  waned  before  Ulysses  ultimately 
reached  his  own  beloved  Ithaca  and  regained  his  true  noble  queen  Pene 
lope,  is  not  only  known  to  you  but  also  belongs  to  the  universal  knowl 
edge  of  our  Hellenic  people. 

"Be  it  noted  that  it  were  men,  inquisitive  men,  not  women,  who  opened 
the  bags,  thus  for  once  being  compelled  to  place  the  blame  of  inquisitive- 
ness  where  it  rightly  belongs. 

"If,  in  your  wanderings,  you  should  be  fortunate  enough  to  land  at 
the  fair  Isle  of  Aeolus,  you  will  give  special  thanks  to  the  powerful  god 
and  perhaps  one  of  the  young  maidens  may  read  'The  Prayer  to 
Aeolus'  again.  Show  your  implicit  confidence  in  his  friendship  by  ap 
pealing  to  his  judgment — superior  to  your  own ;  and  that  from  whatever 
quarter  the  winds  may  blow  you  will  never  cease  offering  sweet  incense 
with  thanks  in  words  and  song  on  land  and  sea.  You  will  not  ask 
Aeolus  to  have  the  adverse  winds  placed  on  deck,  bound  in  large  bags, 
but  in  a  noble  spirit,  worthy  of  yourselves,  you  may  emphasize  that : 

"There  are  other  ships  on  the  seas  of  the  world, 
That  also  have  their  sails  unfurled 
That  ask  for  favorable  breeze." 

Thus  in  a  noble  spirit  of  fairness,  plainly  indicate  that  you  appreciate 
and  are  thankful  for  whatever  favorable  breeze  Aeolus  deems  you  are 
entitled  to.  Certainly  you  should  not  pray  to  Aeolus  to  favor  you  with 
constant  fair  wind  and  fair  weather.  Even  a  log  floating  on  the  sea 
will  move  forward  with  fair  wind  and  fair  weather  and  ultimately  reach 
the  opposite  shore. 

"It  is  the  strong  gales,  storms,  hurricanes  and  adverse  winds  and 
tides  which  lend  a  charm  and  dignity  to  seamanship.  We  know  that  the 
sea  over  which  Aeolus  sweeps  is  too  endlessly  wide  to  allow  his  whole 
attention  to  be  given  to  one  particular  spot  or  ship.  The  more  we  ob 
serve  the  workings  of  the  gods,  the  more  we  comprehend,  wonder  and 
admire  the  justice  of  their  acts.  The  gods  have  endowed  us  with  a 
surplus  of  strength — strength  which  we  can  employ  in  adversity.  It  is 
the  storms  of  adversity  in  life  which  call  upon  and  bring  out  in  fall 
play  the  surplus  faculties  of  wisdom  and  strength  with  which  the  gods 
have  endowed  us.  You  cannot  expect  the  assistance  of  the  gods  until 
all  the  faculties  with  which  the  gods  have  endowed  us  have  been  called 


102  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

into  action.  To  those  who  do  not  despair,  but  in  adverse  storms,  with 
waves  mountain  high,  strenuously  apply  their  whole  surplus  strength 
and  wisdom — to  such,  in  case  of  need,  the  gods  delight  to  give  assistance 
in  various  ways.  But  to  such  it  is  seldom  necessary.  The  seamen  could 
not  be  expert  if  Aeolus  would  only  supply  fair  wind  and  weather.  Sun 
shine,  rain,  calm,  gales,  storms,  hurricanes,  fair  and  adverse  winds  and 
tides — these  make  up  the  life  on  the  ocean  wave.  To  the  true  inborn 
sailor  there  is  nothing  which  lends  so  much  zest  to  his  life  on  the  sea  as 
when  steering  the  ship  proudly,  defiantly  o'er  the  storm-swept,  heaving 
billows  against  adverse  winds. 

"This  brings  out  the  true  sailor  spirit,  and  makes  him  feel  as  if  he 
were  a  brother  to  the  elements  which  are  only  playfully  impeding  the 
progress  of  the  ship.  About  the  necessity,  uses  and  intentions  of  what 
we  call  adversity  on  land  and  sea,  in  view  of  the  propitious  breeze,  I 
shall  not  detain  you.  But  I  will  only  again  emphasize  that  in  adversity 
we  have  no  right  to  call  upon  the  assistance  of  the  gods  until  the  full 
surplus  of  wisdom  and  energy  with  which  the  gods  have  endowed  us  has 
been  thoughtfully  and  strenuously  applied.  Please  bear  in  mind  a 
rhymelet,  just  formed  in  my  mind: 

Where'er  you  are,  on  land  or  sea, 
You'll  always  find  this  life  to  be — 
A  life  of  strenuosity. 

"And  I  may  also,  in  this  connection,  mention  the  saying  of  Grecian 
fishermen : 

'Live  fish,  only,  swim  against  the  stream.' 

"You  embark  upon  your  expedition  as  warirors  of  peace — your  darts 
and  spears  are  not  thirsting  for  blood. 

'You  sail  not  forth  to  spoil  or  slay, 
But  to  the  Gods  for  friendship  pray.' 

"In  all  lands  you  will  bear  your  implements  of  war  in  a  peace-indi 
cating  manner — spears  with  the  points  backwards.  You  must  never  fail 
to  show  your  respect  for  the  surrounding  customs  and  gods  of  other 
lands,  in  whatever  country  you  may  land.  A  fearless,  unconcerned  bear 
ing  will  command  respect  and,  in  many  instances,  shield  you  from  at 
tack  ;  when  the  opposite  attitude  would  encourage  it.  Respect,  but 
reverence  not,  strange  gods.  Worship  and  sacrifice  only  to  your  own. 

"Ithobal  said  that  ships  sailing  to  distant  lands  cannot  fail  of  being 
attacked  by  pirates.  The  exhibition  you  gave  of  a  battle  against  attack 
ing  pirates  would  seem  to  dispel  all  fears  from  that  quarter.  The  large 
ness  of  the  Aeolus,  coupled  with  the  preparations  for  such  attacks,  make 
your  position  seem  invulnerable.  But  it  may  be  well  to  bear  in  mind 
that  Achilles  deluded  himself  in  the  belief  that  he  was  invulnerable 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  103 

against  arrows  thirsting  for  blood.  One  of  our  greatest  victorious  war 
riors  when  asked  which  is  the  first  and  most  important  point  in  war? 
answered:  'Not  to  underestimate  the  enemy.'  In  many  distant  coun 
tries  where  you  will  land  the  inhabitants  will  look  upon  you  with  a 
mingled  feeling  of  suspicion  and  fear.  In  such  lands,  to  make  your 
peaceful  commercial  designs  known  is  the  problem  before  you.  The 
Aegis  that  will  protect  you  from  attack  will  in  a  great  measure  be  your 
actions  and  behavior  to  and  about  the  peoples  you  meet.  Through  the 
distribution  of  presents  you  can  gain  the  good  will  and  friendship  of 
superior  numbers;  when  force,  on  the  other  hand,  would  lead  you  to 
destruction.  And  let  me  again  remark,  A  gift  turneth  the  heart  in  favor 
of  the  giver. 

"Even  an  apparent  gift  of  a  monstrous  wooden  horse  to  the  Trojans 
opened  the  gates  of  Troy.  Seeing  what  a  gift  in  question  can  do,  how 
much  more  can  an  openly  offered,  unquestioned  gift,  accompanied  by  a 
spirit  of  friendship,  accomplish.  To  present  gifts  in  distant  countries 
will  require  close  scrutiny,  as  to  who  are  the  rulers,  chiefs,  leaders, 
queens  or  kings.  To  such,  of  greatest  influence,  the  most  costly  gifts 
will  be  given ;  and  to  these  also  present  our  Grecian  wine,  partaking  of 
the  same  yourselves  in  social  converse;  but  not  to  a  boisterous  degree. 

"Hymettus  honey  also  will  not  be  in  bad  taste  with  men  and  women 
of  exalted  influence.  Being  highly  cultured  makes  it  superfluous  to  say 
that  in  foreign  lands  you  are  to  consider  yourselves  as  stranger  guests. 
This  will  curb  unpleasant  criticisms  of  customs  and  things  the  reasons 
for  and  uses  of  which  may  be  unfamiliar  to  you.  A  cynic  is  not  a  wel 
come  guest  in  any  country  at  any  time  or  place.  To  honor  and  give 
presents  where  they  will  exert  the  most  influence  of  value  is  a  Phoeni 
cian  trait  which  will  also  be  a  required  feature  in  your  commercial  ex 
peditions.  The  maiden  voyagers  know  best  which  articles  are  most  ap 
propriate  and  appreciated  by  women;  and  it  is  within  their  mission  to 
present  gifts  to  queens  and  to  women  of  influence  and  rank. 

"On  distant  shores,  when  mingling  with  kings,  queens,  heroes,  chief 
tains  and  people  of  influence,  use  words  of  admiration  and  praise,  bear 
ing  in  mind  that  rightly  guided  praise  is  the  sweetest  of  music.  On 
foreign  shores,  beware  that  such  as  pat  you  on  the  shoulder  and  praise 
you  with  animation  do  not  stealthily  aid  valuables  to  depart  from  your 
pockets.  Or  in  other  words,  'tis  well  not  to  come  in  too  close  touch  with 
people  in  strange  lands.  If  you  should  land  in  the  country  of  the  Lotus 
eaters,  beware! — take  warning  from  the  experience  related  by  Ulysses, 
the  sea-tossed  mariner,  whose  crew  having  feasted  on  the  sweet  lotus  did 
not  wish  to  return  to  their  ship  or  home  again,  having  lost  all  longing 
for  their  native  land. 

"On  foreign  shores,  eat  not  of  strange  fruits,  nor  drink  of  unknown 
liquors,  until  those  offering  them  are  seen  to  partake  of  the  same  them- 


104  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

selves ;  for  it  is  known  that  the  bravest  of  warriors  have  been  overcome 
by  eating  food  offered  to  them  in  friendly  guise.  It  is  also  known  that 
sirens,  dwelling  on  high  seashore  cliffs,  lure  ships  to  destruction  by  dis 
tracting  the  sailors'  attention  from  dangerous  rocks  and  reefs  by  their 
melodious  songs.  Thus  many  seamen  are  lulled  to  sleep  in  the  cradle 
of  the  deep.  You  will  not  be  in  danger  of  being  charmed  to  destruction 
by  the  siren's  sweet  song,  as  it  floats  down  from  high  sea  washed  cliffs. 
Captain  Arteus  will  not,  like  Ulysses,  find  it  necessary  to  have  the  ears 
of  his  crew  stopped  with  wax ;  for  all  who  have  listened  to  the  melliflu 
ous  voices  of  the  maiden  voyagers  in  song,  can  safely  claim  that : 

'The  siren's  song,  from  cliffs  on  high, 
Can  not  with  your  sweet  voices  vie.* 

"It  may  be  possible  that  the  sirens  will  be  silent  in  the  presence  of 
the  sweet  music  and  song  which  accompanies  this  grand  adventure.  Be 
it  recalled  that  when  the  Argonauts  drew  near  the  isle  of  the  sirens, 
Orpheus  struck  up  his  lyre  and  drowned  their  song,  thus  sailing  past  the 
dangerous  rocks  in  safety.  You,  as  rovers  upon  Neptune's  liquid  realm, 
are  in  league  with  and  are  now  confederates  of  the  sea ;  therefore  it  is 
meet  for  you  all  to  live  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  things  associated 
with  the  sea  and  it  is  of  great  importance  to  be  well  informed  as  to 
rocks,  waves,  mermaids  and  sea  fowls  which  are  held  as  sacred.  As 
true  seamen  be  very  careful  not  to  allow  harm  to  come  to  the  stormy 
petrel,  seagulls  and  the  albatross,  which  in  storm  and  calm  may  alight 
upon  the  ship's  masts,  yards  and  rigging  to  find  rest  from  the  weary 
flight 

"Ithobal  related  to  me  that  it  has  been  well  noted  by  sailors  that  sea 
fowls  frequent  and  remain  on  ships  where  sailors'  songs  and  music  re 
sound,  indicating  that  they  also  enjoy  the  sweet  flowing  waves  of  song. 
Whoever  kills  any  of  the  sacred  birds,  can  find  rest  no  more ;  and  ill  fate 
befalls  the  ship  sooner  or  later. 

"On  your  journeys  on  the  wide  waters,  while  sailing  close  to  rock- 
bound  shores,  be  careful  to  steer  beyond  tfte  reach  of  Scylla  and  Charyb- 
dis.  Scylla,  the  dreadful  sea  monster  with  six  heads  and  twelve  feet, 
dwells  in  a  sea  cave  looking  to  the  west,  high  up  in  a  large  cliff.  Out 
of  her  cave,  she  sticks  her  heads,  snatching  seamen  from  out  of  the 
passing  ships.  Charybdis  seems  to  be  in  league  with  Scylla,  spouting 
up  great  streams  of  water,  high  in  the  air,  to  draw  the  seamen's  atten 
tion  away  from  Scylla,  as  ships  are  about  to  pass  her  cave.  Ulysses 
had  not  this  warning,  therefore  six  of  his  seamen  were  snatched  from 
out  of  his  ship  by  Scylla  and  devoured.  Sailors  say  that  there  are  mon 
sters  in  the  deep  which  can  and  do  destroy  the  largest  ships.  They  are 
seldom  met  with,  but  when  encountered,  the  ship's  destruction  is  inevita 
ble.  When  talking  about  ships  it  may  be  said  the  Aeolus  is  more  than  a 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  105 

ship,  being  beyond  all  comparison  in  size  to  all  other  ships.  The  Aeolus 
might  rightly  be  termed  a  sailing  fortified  castle,  the  destruction  of 
which  will  prove  itself  to  be  more  difficult  of  accomplishment  by  sea 
monsters  and  sea  serpents  than  any  of  the  boats  they  have  heretofore 
destroyed. 

"Daring  Sea  Rovers !  This  expedition  will  enlarge  your  vision  so  that 
you  will  be  better  fitted  for  great  undertakings.  Man's  experience  and 
surroundings  exert  a  great  influence  in  the  broadening  of  his  views  of 
peoples  and  things.  The  experience  you  will  gain  in  your  adventures 
will  undoubtedly  conduce  to  the  benefit  of  our  native  Athens. 

"The  beaten  path  is  the  safest  path.  To  strike  out  on  new  paths 
and  adventures,  it  requires  the  strong,  undaunted  and  brave  of  heart 
and,  I  may  add,  the  young — just  such  as  compose  the  Aeolus'  voyagers — 
you  who  are  in  the  morning  of  life,  with  the  wide,  hopeful  future  still 
before  you.  On  strange,  distant  seas,  there  is  no  definite  path  to  follow ; 
and  in  the  interest  of  advancement  it  is  the  strong  and  courageous  who 
lead  and  strike  out  upon  new  unknown  paths — braving  dangers  unfore- 
told ;  and  after  returning  successfully,  others  then  follow.  The  world  is 
the  wise  man's  country,  indicating  that  distant  voyages  broaden  the 
mind. 

"It  was  Ithobal's  distant  voyages  that  enabled  him  to  impart  golden 
thoughts.  In  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  can  the  thoughts  he  im 
parted  be  called  golden,  containing,  as  they  do,  the  art  of  obtaining  from 
distant  lands,  through  traffic,  valuable  wares,  precious  stones,  silver  and 
gold.  It  is  known  that  Phoenician  ships  sailing  upon  the  broad  seas, 
have  returned  with  anchors  of  silver  and  with  balls  of  gold  glistening 
on  top  of  the  ships'  mast.  Phoenician  merchants  and  seamen  keep  the 
lands  and  shores  to  which  they  voyage  secret.  Any  Phoenician  who 
should  divulge  the  destination  of  their  ships  would  be  instantly  put  to 
death.  After  great  research  the  names,  it  is  believed,  of  two  ports  have 
been  found  out,  but  their  situation,  whether  east,  south  or  west,  is  not 
known.  On  your  voyage,  therefore,  make  diligent  inquiry  to  find  out 
where  the  ports  or  cities  of  Tarshish  and  also  Ophir  are  located.  But 
it  may  not  be  wise  to  follow  my  advice  on  this  point,  for  it  would  not 
be  honorable,  and  even  if  you  should  discover  these  ports  or  lands, 
Phoenician  ships  would,  beyond  all  doubt,  combine  and  cause  your  total 
destruction.  Then  all  gold  and  precious  metals  would  be  of  no  avail. 

"And  here,  again,  it  may  be  well  to  recall  Ithobal's  advice,  'steer 
clear  out  of  sight  of  Phoenician  ships  and  ports.'  But  there  are  many 
locations,  ports  and  lands  in  the  vast  distant  shores  of  the  Mediterrahean 
where  gold  and  precious  metals  abound,  which,  with  diligent  inquiry  and 
search,  may  also  enable  you  to  return  with  anchors  of  silver  and  the 
tops  of  the  masts  of  your  ship  ornamented  with  glittering  balls  of  gold. 
It  is  said  that  a  certain  king  had  a  gift  of  turning  everything  he  touched 


106  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

into  gold.  Similarly  may  we  hope  that  all  the  shores  you  touch  will  add 
to  your  ship  gold  or  wares  equal  to  value  in  gold. 

"The  object  of  this  voyage  is  not  wholly  for  wealth,  but  is  for  the 
purpose  of  wealth,  wisdom  and  power.  Not  only  to  establish  commerce, 
but  also  it  is  your  mission  to  observe  and  study  and  carefully  gather 
information  in  regard  to  customs,  manners,  implements  of  war  and 
chase;  and  note  the  useful  as  well  as  the  ornamental  works  of  art  in 
whatsoever  fashion  or  form  you  may  find  them.  Seek  storm-sheltered 
harbors  and  also  fertile  lands  in  which  Ceres  and  Pomona  would  delight ; 
lands  suitable  to  form  Grecian  colonies.  Upon  your  return  from  the 
large,  flat  world,  over  which  you  will  have  journeyed,  comparing  with 
the  limits  of  your  native  country,  you  will  undoubtedly  direct  all  your 
energies  to  enlarge  the  boundaries  of  your  own  native  Athens;  'City  of 
the  Violet  Crowned  Hills,'  bathed  in  purple  tints  by  the  rising  and  the 
setting  sun. 

"At  the  distant  ports,  make  your  land  known.  Do  not  be  a  ship 
without  a  country.  People  in  distant  countries  will  not  fail  to  perceive 
that  you  are  of  the  'noble  of  the  earth ;  and  your  manners  and  bearing 
will  convince  them  that  you  are  the  pattern  of  politeness  and  every 
elegant  art. 

"When  and  where  not  to  display  your  jewels,  situations  must  decide. 
Sailing  o'er  the  bounding  ocean  in  such  a  ship  with  such  a  large  number 
of  voyagers,  it  is  meet  that  the  God  of  Concord  be  one  of  its  passengers. 

"Sailors  and  all  voyagers  show  their  Athenian  courage  by  recogniz 
ing  and  observing  the  Captain's  orders  and  following  the  rules  of  order 
of  the  ship.  It  is  certain  that  under  all  and  every  change  of  situation  of 
circumstances  which  may  take  place  upon  your  long  voyage,  off  or  on 
the  ship,  you  will  all  prove  yourselves  worthy  the  name  of  Grecian  in 
wisdom,  courage  and  honor.  Many  are  the  gods  whose  friendly  associa 
tion  with  this  voyage  we  pray  for ;  but  there  is  one  god  who  during  the 
time  of  this  adventure  we  must  kindly  bid  stay  away.  It  is  Cupid,  the 
god  who  delights  to  mingle  in  the  company  of  young  maidens  and  men. 
Cupid — without  whom  the  world  would  be  a  cold  and  dreary  abiding 
place.  Cupid — the  god  who  unites  the  hearts  of  young  maidens  and 
men  in  honor  and  love.  It  is  he  who  fills  the  world  with  happiness  and 
joy,  akin  to  fields  Elysian.  It  is  he,  alas!  whose  absence  you  must  im 
plore  until  the  completion  of  your  voyage — until  you  return  again  to 
the  shore  of  cultured  Athens.  If  Cupid  should  alight  among  you  be  sure 
to  take  his  darts  away,  for  his  inclinations  must  suffer  delay.  The  god 
with  whom  you  are  otherwise  so  closely  in  touch  and  in  whose  presence 
all  maidens  and  young  men  otherwise  delight  to  dwell  in  and  whom 
you  ever  honor  and  revere  so  much ;  to  him  you  must,  upon  this  voyage, 
say: 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  107 

Cupid,  please,  please  keep  away, 
But  only  till  some  other  day; 
Till  our  ship  returns  again 
From  far  o'er  the  distant  main 
To  our  fair  Athenian  shore, 
Then  we'll  love  you  so  much  more. 

"I  may  add :  on  shipboard  let  not  your  words  have  a  double  meaning. 
Purest  thoughts  should  only  find  expression  in  words  and  glances. 

As  you  sow,  so  you'll  reap, 
Nothing  secret  you  can  keep. 

"I  also  may  add  a  couplet,  just  formed  in  my  mind.    It  is : 

Never  should  the  laws  of  man 
Smother  those  of  nature's  plan. 

"And  I  must  emphasize  that  this  couplet  is  not  applicable  to  this 
adventure.  It  may  be  surmised,  however,  that  thoughts  of  the  same 
import  as  suggested  by  the  couplet  may  find  at  moments  a  dwelling 
place  on  the  ship,  but  bear  in  mind  the  nobility  of  self-control,  and  re 
member  that  Cupid  must  not  at  any  time  be  allowed  to  alight  on  the 
ship.  You  cannot  avoid  many  thoughts  that  will  run  through  your 
brain,  as  occurrences,  situations,  times  and  conditions  of  body  generate 
thoughts.  But  banish  all  thoughts  which  are  not  permissible ; 
always  keeping  the  one  thought  uppermost  in  your  mind,  namely: 
Commerce  ! 

"Nothing  must  be  said  to  cause  a  blush  or  cause  modest  eyes  to 
turn  aside.  Follow  not  the  shepherd's  saying:  'One  should  kiss  and 
keep  the  mouth  shut.'  When  you  are  in  doubt  as  to  the  fitness  of  things, 
remember : 

"There's  a  prompter  ever  near, 
Listen  only,  and  you'll  hear 
What  is  right  and  what  is  wrong. 
Listen — need  not  listen  long." 

"This  applies  especially  to  the  high,  intelligent  and  keen  perception 
with  which  you  are  all  by  nature  and  culture,  so  abundantly  endowed. 
And  I  will  emphasize  a  thought  that  just  flashes  across  my  mind.  It  is : 

"Pure  and  Noble  Thoughts  embellish  the  Countenance. 

"You  have  all  been  endowed  with  excellencies,  so  equally,  only  differ 
ing  in  color  of  hair,  eyes,  voice  and  individual  qualities,  without  which 
differentations  all  beauty  would  undesirably  merge  into  one  type  of 
sameness. 

"In  regard  to  envy  it  may  be  said : 

Envy  turneth  tongues  into  snakes. 


108  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"And  of  hate,  in  the  view  of  your  position  of  refinement  and  culture, 
it  can  be  safely  said : 

The  human  heart  in  purest  state, 
It  knoweth  only  love — not  hate. 

"So  that  envy  and  hate  can  find  no  dwelling  place  among  you. 

"Although  commerce  will  ever  be  uppermost  in  your  thoughts,  a  large 
share  of  your  time  will  also  be  given  to  enjoyment,  both  on  shipboard 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  on  distant  shores ;  and  let  me  say : 

Let  no  Cassandra's  heart  feel  sad, 
While  all  the  rest  are  joyous — glad. 

"Truly  the  gods  delight  to  view  a  scene  of  brave  and  happy  hearts, 
therefore,  undoubtedly,  the  majority  of  the  muses  nine  will  accompany 
you  upon  your  voyage:  Euterpe,  Thalia,  Melpomene,  Terpsychore,  Erato, 
Polyhymnia,  Urania,  Calliope.  Clio  will  be  the  special  guardian  of 
Scriborites,  who  is  the  master  of  rolls  of  the  ship,  which  are  to  contain 
the  account  and  history  of  the  ship's  voyage. 

"Without  enjoyment,  this  world  would  be  a  dry  and  dreary  waste 
indeed.  All  human  efforts  are  prompted  through  the  ultimate  desire  of 
enjoyment.  As  to  dancing,  I  may  say : 

To  sweet  Lydian  measures  dance, 
Keeping  hearts  and  loving  glance, 
Only  for  the  Gods  above, 
None  other  now,  'tis  meet  to  love. 

"On  distant  shores,  your  skill  and  dexterity  in  archery,  lance-casting, 
discus  hurling  and  the  many  other  games,  will  not  fail  to  call  forth 
respect  and  honor.  We  hope  when  the  ship  returns  the  number  of  its 
voyagers  will  not  be  less  than  at  its  parting." 

Here  a  young  man  among  the  nobles  on  the  wharf  spoke  out  in  a 
clear,  audible  voice :  "There  is  more  danger  and  likelihood  of  a  larger 
crowd  returning  on  the  ship  than  at  its  departure." 

Philostenes  paused,  looking  at  the  young  man,  when  the  latter  seem 
ingly  awoke  to  the  situation,  saying  hastily :  "I  beg  pardon,  excuse  me, 
I  did  not  know  I  was  thinking  so  loud." 

Philostenes,  without  paying  any  further  attention  to  the  remarks 
made,  continued:  "The  sun  is  rising  higher  and  higher  towards  the 
zenith  and  the  time  for  the  ship's  departure  is  drawing  nearer  and 
nearer.  The  beautiful  flowers  and  garlands  with  which  all  parts  of  the 
ship  are  so  profusely  decorated  will  soon  fade  away.  Also  the  flowers 
with  which  the  maidens  have  ornamented  their  beautiful  golden  blonde, 
black  and  auburn  hair  will  fade,  but  if  your  adventure  ends  in  success, 
its  mission  achieved,  the  names  of  each  and  all  of  you  will  never  fade 
Irom  the  scrolls  of  Athenian  history.  If  the  expedition  returns  success- 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  109 

fully,  an  imposing  monument  will  be  raised  on  the  Acropolis  to  sym 
bolize  Commerce,  one  hand  of  the  large  statue  pointing  to  the  sea,  as 
suggested  by  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal. 

"On  the  large  base  of  same,  I  will  suggest  that  the  ship  Aeolus  and 
each  voyager's  name  be  engraven.  We  know  how  the  fame  of  the  heroes 
who  took  part  in  the  Siege  of  Troy,  who  battled  over  nine  years  to  re 
gain  for  King  Menelaus  of  Sparta  his  beautiful  wife  Helen,  and  also 
how  the  fame  of  the  heroes  of  the  Argonautic  expedition  in  search  of 
the  golden  fleece  has  resounded  throughout  Greece  for  ages.  So,  too,  in 
like  manner,  if  your  adventure  is  successful,  will  the  fame  of  your  ad 
venture  resound  throughout  your  native  land  for  all  time  to  come.  If 
successful,  each  one  of  you  upon  your  return  will  receive  a  prize  of 
honor  equal  to  those  distributed  to  the  winners  of  the  Olympian  games ; 
and  poets  and  bards  will  recite  and  sing  paeans  and  triumphal  odes  in 
your  honor.  As  poets  say : 

When  deeds  are  done,  when  Victory  won, 
My  muse  will  then  O  sing  of  Thee 
In  sweetest  flowing  melody. 

"If  this  venture  attains  its  end,  it  shall  be  recited  to  the  youths  and 
maidens  of  Athens  on  every  festival  of  the  Panathenaea,  at  the  same  time 
with  Homeric  poems. 

The  Laurel  twigs  are  growing  now 

With  which  we'll  crown  each  worthy  brow, 

Yes,  if  successful; 

Tongues  yet  unborn  will  sing  your  praise 
With  lyre  and  harp  in  endless  lays. 
Generations  will  pass  to  shades  below; 
But  each  generation  your  names  shall  know, 
As  heroes,  each  one,  the  brave  "Hundred  four" 
Who  sailed  o'er  wild  seas,  from  shore  to  shore, 
For  the  glory  of  Athens,  its  wealth  and  its  power, 
So  that,  as  in  art,  in  Commerce  it  tower 
Above  all  nations,  majestically  grand, 
Our  beautiful  Athens!    Our  Hellenic  land! 

"Yes!  The  finest  and  most  durable  marble  of  Pentelicus  will  hold 
your  names  immortal. 

"I  found  it  necessary  to  emphasize  the  word — if  successful;  for  if 
the  gods  decree  that  you  shall  not  return  again — are  unsuccessful — then 
this  event  will  pass  unnoticed  in  history,  as  you  will  not  wish,  like  true 
Grecians,  to  have  your  failure  recorded  and  known  to  ages  yet  unborn. 
If  you  should  not  return  your  adventure  will  be  kept  dark  and  passed 
into  forgetfulness." 

Exaltides,  one  of  the  young  voyagers,  who  was  standing  on  the  ship's 
bulwark,  holding  himself  by  the  strands,  said  in  a  calm,  determined 
voice :  "Excuse  me  for  interrupting : 


110  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

If  we  accomplish  nothing  great, 
Then  let  oblivion — be  our  fate/ 

(Great  applause  by  the  voyagers.)  After  a  short  pause,  Philostenes 
proceeded : 

"You  have  spoken  in  a  true  Athenian  spirit.  Your  remarks  illustrate, 
as  it  were,  a  determination  to  succeed;  to  make  determined  efforts  to 
conquer  all  obstacles.  It  is  the  same  noble  spirit  that  pervades  Athen 
ians  on  land,  namely :  Victory  or  Death,  and  has  been  the  cause  of  the 
long  period  of  peace  without  which  this  great  ship  could  not  have  been 
constructed  and  this  event  could  not  have  taken  place.  The  remark 
made  by  the  young  man  voyager,  namely: 

If  we  accomplish  nothing  great, 
Then  let  oblivion — be  our  fate. 

Indicates  plainly  that  our  Hellenic  spirit  to  conquer  has  also  found  its 
place  on  the  sea.  Far  upon  Neptune's  swaying  realm  you  will  encounter 
high,  powerful  waves;  but  the  strongest  of  all  waves  are  the  waves  of 
fate.  You,  with  all  of  us  Athenians,  hold: 

"Oblivion  is  nothing,  success  is  everything."  (Applause.) 

Portrayia,  one  of  the  maiden  voyagers  of  the  ship,  said : 

"Noble,  venerable  Philostenes !  We  beg  pardon  for  this  second  inter 
ruption,  and  if  you  will  allow,  I  will  proceed  with  the  task  with  which 
all  the  voyagers  have  entrusted  me." 

Philostenes,  in  a  pleasing  manner,  bowed  acquiescence. 

"I  have  been  selected  to  say  that  it  has  come  to  our  ears  that  some 
of  our  illustrious  artists  on  shore  are  painting  the  present  farewell  scene 
of  the  departure  of  our  ship  Aeolus  on  canvas.  This  we  do  not  object 
to  at  the  present  time,  but  it  is  the  wish  and  the  demand  of  all  the 
voyagers  of  the  Aeolus,  if  our  ship  should  not  return  again — our  efforts 
prove  a  failure — then,  in  such  an  event,  the  voyagers  want  it  to  be  dis 
tinctly  understood  that  all  such  paintings  and  sketches  should  be  totally 
destroyed.  We  cannot  expect  honor  from  failure."  (Great  applause  by 
the  voyagers.) 

"That,"  continued  Philostenes,  "is  in  harmony  with  the  heroic  spirit 
already  so  clearly  manifested;  and  your  commands,  in  case  of  failure 
to  return  to  your  native  shores  again,  will  be  strictly  followed,  obeyed 
and  enforced.  (Applause  by  voyagers.) 

"The  true  Athenian  spirit,  which  accompanies  you  along  on  the  sea, 
augurs  well  for  a  successful  voyage  and  triumphal  return.  It  is  certainly 
with  great  reluctance  that  all  of  us  here  must  bid  our  farewell  to  this 
beautiful,  fairy-like  scene.  The  very  air  is  laden  with  the  sweet  perfume 
of  flowers  and  garlands.  No  poet  has  ever  pictured  in  words,  nor  the 
most  idealistic  artist  portrayed  on  canvas  a  spectacle  so  charming,  grand 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  111 

and  beautiful  as  this — the  departure  of  the  Aeolus,  now  before  us,  and 
upon  which  the  gods  have  privileged  us  to  feast  our  eyes.  The  wonder 
ful  proportions  of  the  ship,  festooned  with  an  endless  array  of  garlands 
and  flowers,  with  its  artistically  painted  sails  and  the  large  rainbow 
flags  waving  from  the  masts,  the  incense  wafting  from  the  censers  on 
high — all — all  conspire  to  fill  the  eye  of  the  beholder  with  a  brilliant 
picture  which  will  never  fade  from  the  vision  until  we  are  called  to  the 
shades  below.  The  highest  flights  of  fancy  cannot  succeed  in  picturing 
a  spectacle  so  majestic,  grand  and  beautiful  as  this.  But  of  the  particu 
lar  parts  composing  this  spectacle,  the  most  beautiful  and  of  all  interest 
ing,  is  its  personnel.  Handsome,  stately,  courageous,  wise,  manly,  young 
men;  beautiful,  stately,  charming,  fearless,  womanly  young  women,  are 
only  a  few  of  the  many  words  of  laudation  applicable.  The  gods  on 
Olympus  high  are  seldom  so  partial  as  to  grant  more  than  one  special 
gift  to  an  individual.  But  the  gods  have  endowed  you  with  all  the 
excellencies  and  faculties  that  can  be  desired  by  mortals. 

"This  recalls  a  prize  that  was  offered  by  our  Athenian  philosophers 
for  the  strongest  ten  words  in  our  Hellenic  language.  In  looking  over 
the  large  number  of  contestants  for  the  prize  we  philosophers  were  sur 
prised  that  even  the  winner  of  the  prize  had  not  included  the  word 
which  signifies  so  much.  But  if  he  is  here,  a  spectator,  the  blooming 
beauty  and  youth  before  us  cannot  but  help  to  form  the  word  of  itself 
in  his  mind,  namely :  the  word  Perfection.1"  (Applause  by  the  spectators 
on  the  wharf.) 

"If  you  should  sail  where  the  Nereides,  and  also  where  the  mermaids 
dwell,  they  will  undoubtedly  swim  along  the  sides  of  the  ship  and  look 
at  its  maidens  admiringly  and  with  envy  perhaps.  Allow  me  to  say : 

Whenever  you  bend  o'er  the  waters  calm, 

To  comb  your  wealth  of  hair, 
You  can  not  fail  in  joy  to  see 

A  beautiful  picture  there; 
Fairer  than  artists  ever  dreamed 

Or  poets  idealized, 
Great  nations  warred  for  Helen  fair — 

Thus  each  of  you  are  prized. 

"Adventurers!  Your  grand  ship  is  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word 
a  sample  ship;  holding  as  it  does  samples  of  the  most  useful  and  best 
articles  of  merchandise  for  display  on  foreign  shores.  And  in  addition, 
it  also  has  the  honor  of  harboring  the  most  precious  and  beautiful  of 
all  samples — sample  women  and  sample  men.  Excuse  me — to  whatever 
shores  the  Fates  may  waft  you,  these  will  be  prized  the  highest,  valued 
and  admired  the  most.  If  the  naming  of  your  grand  ship  would  have 
been  postponed  until  the  present  time,  I  would  have  been  tempted  to 
suggest  that  it  be  called  the  Beauty  Ship. 


112  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Captain  Arteus,  as  well  as  all  Phoenician  seamen,  casts  his  vision  in 
the  direction  of  the  constellation  Cynosure,  which  contains  the  ever- 
present  Phoenician  star  shining  in  the  northern  blue  vault  above.  So, 
too,  on  foreign  shores  will  the  maiden  voyagers  be — the  cynosure  of  all 
eyes. 

The  Gods,  themselves,  your  beauty  must  admire, 
And  sing  your  praise  with  heavenly  lyre. 

"Hebe  and  Hygeia  have  showered  the  blessings  of  freshness  and 
blooming  health  upon  you. 

Loveliest  of  our  human  race, 
Your  lineage  to  our  Gods  we  trace. 

"Truly  sunshine  lingers  in  your  hearts  and  the  bloom  of  youth  in 
your  countenances.  On  whatever  shores  you  may  land,  it  will  not  be 
difficult  for  its  ruling  people  to  discern  from  your  stateliness,  fearless 
ness  and  noble  bearing  that  your  ancestors  belonged  to  the  noble  of  the 
earth-gods  and  heroes,  whose  deeds  of  fame  have  cast  a  lustre  on  your 
native  Hellenic  land  from  time  immemorial ;  many  of  whom  are  robed  in 
Tyrrean  purple. 

"They  will  also  feel  that  each  of  the  young  men  voyagers  is  fit  for 
leadership  and  command — to  rule  a  kingdom.  And  the  maidens  fit  to 
grace  the  robes  and  crown  of  a  queen. 

"But,  after  all,  on  second  thought,  I  should  have  remembered  beauty 
stands  not  in  need  of  praise.  There  is  a  charming  lovely  sea  goddess 
whose  acquaintance  the  beauties  of  the  Aeolus  should  seek  writh  all  dili 
gence.  She  has  the  powrer,  with  her  sweet,  charming  voice,  to  still  the 
fiercest  ocean  storm.  Phoenician  seamen  invoke  her  favor  with  prayer, 
songs,  and  sacrifice.  To  them  she  is  known  as : 

"Aphrodite,  born  in  the  foam  of  the  sea, 

The  beautiful  Goddess  has  power  to  soothe 

With  charming,  sweet  voice,  the  high  rolling  sea ; 
The  ocean's  rough  face  again  becomes  smooth — 

So  love  her  and  praise  her  in  song  and  in  prayer, 

The  foam-born  Goddess — the  Beautiful  Fair. 

But  p]ros,  her  son,  with  bow  and  with  dart 

Delighteth  to  pierce  each  innocent  heart. 

Beware,  O  beware  and  stay  far  away, 

Until  you  are  home  again  some  future  day." 

"Young  men  !  When  I  say  that  the  young-  maidens  are  all  worthy  of 
your  company  it  is  the  highest  praise  I  can  bestow  upon  you.  In  all 
neighboring  lands  it  is  known  that : 

When  Greek  joins  Greek  on  sea  or  land 
Their  onslaught,  fierce,  none  can  withstand. 

"That  is,  in  so  far  as  the  gods  are  not  unfavorable  to  our  designs.  We 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  113 

have  seen  that  at  times  the  gods  do  not  act  in  harmony  with  each  other ; 
as  in  the  siege  of  Troy  where  some  of  the  principal  heroes  on  both  sides 
were  favored  with  special  dexterity,  skill  and  power  by  certain  gods 
which  delayed  the  return  of  our  Grecian  victors  over  one  hundred 
moons.  In  all  undertakings,  unless  our  designs  are  agreeable  to  the 
gods,  success  is  impossible. 

"Those  who  stand  in  the  fear  of  the  Gods,  the  Gods  will  bless." 

All  things  come  of  the  Gods.    Behold! 
How  wonderful  all  things  are  wrought 
By  some  designing  power — some  thought 

"You  have  grandly  invoked  the  favor  of  Aeolus  and  Neptune,  the  two 
ever  active  powerful  gods  who  are  in  immediate  touch  with  your  fearless 
adventure.  You  will  now,  before  concluding  the  ceremonies,  offer  further 
sacrifice  to  Neptune. 

"Queenoria  will  now  pour  into  the  sea,  from  the  ship's  bow,  one 
skin  of  Grecian  wine,  followed  by  a  skin  of  olive  oil  into  the  sea,  indi 
cating1  that  your  mission  is  one  of  good  will  and  peace,  not  turbulency. 

"From  the  extreme  outer  end  of  the  bowsprit  Hillienthos  will 
now  lower  the  small,  miniature  ship  Aeolus,  baked  of  Hymettus  honey 
and  flour,  artistically  rigged  with  masts  and  sails  by  some  of  the  ship's 
sailors.  The  triremes  and  large  number  of  small  boats  in  the  bay  will 
not  interfere  with  its  course.  The  miniature  golden  anchor  suspended 
with  an  invisible  thread  over  the  rostrum  in  the  center  of  the  ship  ap 
pears  to  the  eye  like  a  gilt  spider.  This  tiny  golden  anchor,  wrought  by 
one  of  Athens'  skilled  goldsmiths,  you  will  sacrifice  to  Neptune  by  cast- 
Ing  it  into  the  sea  as  soon  as  you  are  fully  out  of  the  sight  of  land.  At 
the  same  time  you  will  cast  as  an  offering  to  Neptune  ornamental  gifts 
of  flora  on  the  great  waters — beautiful  wreaths  and  flowers. 

Neptune,  Monarch  of  the  sea !  We  implore  Thee, 

May  the  Greek  wine  be  as  nectar  unto  Thee 

And  the  miniature  honey-flour,  Aeolus,  as  ambrosia. 

"The  beautiful  perfumed  gifts  of  flora  to  be  cast  upon  thy  wide 
waters,  please  accept  as  ornamental  sacrifice;  and  the  tiny  gold  an 
chor,  may  it  glitter  like  a  star  down  in  the  deep  blue  sea  to  the  end  of 
time! 

"Voyagers !  Look  upon  the  mission  upon  which  you  are  embarking  as 
though  it  were  an  ordinance  of  the  gods.  In  that  spirit  which  is  akin  to 
the  divine,  your  designs  and  actions  will,  in  the  natural  order  of  things, 
conform  more  readily  in  harmony  with  the  wishes,  pleasure  and  wisdom 
of  the  gods.  Look  upon  your  message  as  divine,  and  the  spirit  attuned 
with  that  acceptance  will  move  your  actions  in  harmony  with  the  wishes 
of  the  gods. 

"Before  the  ceremonies  close  it  is  meet,  in  view  of  the  greatness  of 


114  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

this  undertaking,  to  invoke  the  favor  of  all  the  gods  that  on  high  Olym 
pus  dwell. 

"Ye  gods  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell — Zeus  (Jupiter)  !  Hera  (Juno)  ! 
Poseidon  (Neptune)  !  Demeter  (Ceres)  !  Apollo  Artemis  (Diana)  ! 
Hephaestus  (Vulcan)  !  Pallas  Athene  (Minerva)  !  Acres  (Mars)  !  Aphro 
dite  (Venus)  !  Hermes  (Mercury)  !  and  Hestia  (Vesta)  !  We  humbly 
implore  you  all,  vouchsafe  to  the  worderful  ship  Aeolus  a  fair  voyage 
and  a  safe  return.  O  ye  gods !  Would  that  I  could  speak  in  a  thousand 
tongues.  I  would  praise  you  in  them  all.  The  incense  extraordinary, 
the  smoke  of  which  is  now  wafting  toward  the  sea  from  the  high  tripod, 
erected  on  this  Phalerum  sea-shore  near  by — may  its  sweet  odor,  O 
gods,  be  acceptable  and  agreeable  to  you  all ! 

"Adventurers !  Upon  your  voyage  you  will  implore  the  favor  of  each 
and  all  of  the  Olympian  gods,  according  to  your  needs  and  surroundings. 
Hermes  (Mercury),  whose  good  will  I  shall  now  implore,  should,  on 
your  voyage,  receive  your  special  prayers  and  sacrifice. 

"Hermes  (Mercury)  !  Foot-feathered  messenger  and  herald  of  the 
gods  of  men!  Hermes!  Whose  wand  is  a  golden  caduceus.  Hermes, 
god  of  Trade  and  Commerce!  O  we  humbly  invoke  thy  good  will  and 
aid  in  the  furthering  of  the  grand  commercial  adventure  of  the  ship 
Aeolus.  Oh,  thy  wisdom  in  matters  of  trade  is  akin  to  the  wisdom  of 
Athene  (Minerva).  Oh  Hermes!  brother  of  Apollo,  guide  the  ship  to 
shores  where  wealth  and  gold  freights  the  ship.  In  its  trades  and  bar- 
terings,  O  Hermes,  favor  the  ship,  we  pray,  with  signs  to  know  the 
profit  thereof.  Impart  to  its  voyagers,  we  pray  thee,  the  spirits  of  trade, 
which  thou  boldest  in  such  great  abundance.  All  those,  O  Hermes, 
whom  you  favor  with  the  true  spirit  of  trade,  turn  all  things  into  gold 
or  to  that  which  has  its  value  in  gold.  Your  name  and  fame  are  known 
where  wealth  and  luxury  abound.  Upon  this  voyage  the  young  maidens 
and  men  will  implore  your  favor  through  prayer,  song  and  sacrifice.  O 
Hermes,  we  pray  to  thee,  O  listen  in  the  spirit  of  friendship  to  their 
supplications. 

"And  to  cloud-compelling  Jove — O  we  invoke  thee,  let  not  the  clouds 
obscure  the  moon  and  stars  when  dangers  lurk  around." 

Philostenes  informed  the  Captain  that  the  Tear  Test  could  now 
be  proceeded  with,  after  which  he  would  conclude  his  address  with  a 
short  invocation  to  the  god  of  gods. 

Two  maidens  and  two  young  men  formed  the  committee  and  walked 
around  to  scrutinize  the  faces  of  each  voyager,  none  of  whom  moved 
from  their  places  for  the  time.  The  voyagers  were  not  allowed  to  hold 
a  cloth  of  any  kind  in  their  hands  for  the  time  being.  It  was  a  condi 
tion  agreed  to,  and  thought  necessary,  that  any  voyager  who  shed  tears 
upon  the  departure  of  the  ship,  was  not  fit,  and  not  strong  enough  to 
participate  in  an  undertaking,  the  results  of  which  were  so  important. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  115 

After  the  selected  committee  had  looked  closely  in  all  faces  to  find  red, 
crying  eyes  or  tears,  they  reported  that  they  found  no  indication  of 
tears,  excepting  in  the  case  of  Andronia,  which  was  doubtful. 

Upon  the  committee  hesitating  in  regard  to  her  case,  she  said  in  a 
light-hearted  manner: 

"You'll  never  see  me  cry.  I'd  rather  die."  Whereupon  the  committee 
reported  that  they  had  discovered  no  tears  in  the  eyes  of  any  of  the 
voyagers  and  that  all  were  fit  to  accompany  the  expedition.  Which  an 
nouncement  was  followed  by  loud  cheers  on  the  ship,  wharf  and  shore. 

Captain  Arteus  said :  "  'Tis  well ;  'tis  proof  that  none  were  nourished 
in  wombs  agitated  by  fear." 

At  this  point  a  young  maiden  voyager  ascended  the  rostrum  on  the 
wharf  and  presented  a  beautiful  wreath,  with  the  thanks  of  the  voy 
agers,  to  Philostenes  for  his  address,  so  far  delivered.  Philostenes  re 
plied: 

"Adventurers!  I  accept  and  appreciate  your  thanks,  and  also  the 
beautiful  wreath  you  have  presented  to  me.  This  wreath  I  shall  hang 
in  my  study.  The  sight  of  it  will  ever  form  an  agreeable  association  of 
ideas  to  the  end  of  my  days.  This  wreath  will  fade ;  but  the  pleasurable 
remembrance  of  this  day's  event,  and  of  the  honor  and  kindness  you 
have  bestowed  upon  me  this  day,  will  fade  never !" 

Upon  a  sign  from  Philostenes,  known  to  Captain  Arteus,  all  of  the 
censers  with  incense  were  taken  down  from  masts  and  yards,  so  as  to 
be  ready  upon  the  next  and  last  sign,  to  hoist  the  sails. 

Philostenes  continued :  "In  sailing  from  this  wharf,  out  towards  the 
open  sea,  your  ship  will  pass  through  a  sea  bestrewn  with  wreaths  and 
flowers,  placed  on  the  bay  from  the  numerous  triremes  and  small  boats, 
manned  by  Athenian  friends  and  populace.  Thus,  at  the  beginning  of 
your  voyage  it  can  be  said  in  reality  that  your  path  is  a  rosy  one,  which 
we  all  hope  may  be  said  in  another  sense,  of  the  far  distant  remaining 
part  of  your  voyage — that  your  grand  ship  has  passed,  figuratively 
speaking,  through  a  Sea  of  Roses. 

"With  our  invocations  for  your  return,  there  will  be  with  the  first 
fair  wind  a  tripod  with  incense,  sent  out  on  the  sea,  upon  every  full 
moon.  Frequently  many  of  us  will  ascend  the  Acropolis,  and  from  its 
west  end — look  out  to  the  sea,  anxiously  awaiting  your  return.  He  who 
sights  the  Aeolus  first  shall  receive  a  prize." 
(Philostenes  explains  paintings  on  sails.) 

Upon  a  signal  by  Philostenes,  Captain  Arteus  gave  orders  to  hoist  all 
the  ship's  sails. 

Upon  the  last  sail  being  hoisted,  Philostenes  proceeded: 
"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!     Brave  Sea-rovers!     The  Aeolus 
now,  with  all  its  sails  set,  seems  grander  than  ever.    What  a  magnificent, 
highly  artistic  scenery  spreads  itself  before  us.    The  painting  on  each 


116  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

sail  would  be  fit  to  adorn  the  walls  of  the  richest  temple.  Each  paint 
ing  has  been  executed  by  a  separate  artist.  The  names  of  each  of  our 
Athenian  artists  are  well  known  to  you.  The  beauty  of  these  paintings 
shows  that  they  were  not  only  executed  by  the  most  skillful  artists,  but 
that  they  also  must  have  been  inspired  by  lofty  patriotism  and  love  of 
their  native  Athens,  coupled  with  a  true  comprehension  of  the  import 
ance  of  this  commercial  undertaking.  Let  me  first  retrace.  These  sails 
— the  large  spread  of  sails  and  beautiful  flags  also,  were  spun  and 
woven,  requiring  very  many,  many  days  and  evenings  of  toil  by  hun 
dreds  of  our  beautiful  industrious,  clever,  skillful  Athenian  maidens ! 
(Great  Applause)  Yes,  not  only  men,  but  women  also  have  been 
found  necessary  to  aid  in  the  completion  of  the  Aeolus.  Yes,  it  is  the 
seemingly  thin,  frail  thread,  spun  by  the  dextrous  hands  of  many  of  our 
beautiful  maidens,  that  formed  the  unit  of  those  large  sails,  which 
threads  were  also,  after  many  tedious  days  and  evenings,  woven  into 
sails. 

"The  building  of  the  grand  ship  required  not  only  strong  arms  to 
drive  the  oaken  bolts  or  to  handle  and  fashion  the  heavy  timbers,  planks 
and  spars,  but  it  also  required,  as  a  finishing  touch,  we  may  say,  the 
deft,  skillful,  knowing  fingers  of  the  beautiful  maidens.  All !  All ! 
All!  have  toiled  with  a  spirit  of  love  of  country,  and  I  have  been 
asked  to  state  that  not  one  name  entitled  to  be  recorded  shall  be  over 
looked,  but  all  who  have  in  any  way  striven  to  make  the  building  of 
the  Aeolus  possible  will  be  indelibly  inscribed  on  the  scroll  of  honor  in 
a  durable  and  very  artistic  manner. 

"The  scene  before  us,  also,  as  in  many  other  important  enterprises, 
shows  that  all  great  undertakings  cannot  be  well  accomplished  without 
the  aid  of  women  and  the  aid  of  the  gods,  always.  Woman's  aid,  at 
times,  may  seem  trivial,  but  it  seems  to  be  necessary  in  order  to  com 
plete  the  circle  of  success.  So  it  was  ordained  by  the  gods. 

"But  to  refer  to  the  sails :  Each  sail  has  a  hole  in  its  center.  This 
hole  causes  the  wind  to  press  stronger  against  the  sail;  as  the  wind, 
finding  an  opening,  rushes  with  concentrated  force  against  the  sail  and 
increases  the  speed  of  the  ship.  Such  a  hole  in  each  sail  was  suggested 
by  one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers.  He  is  a  landsman,  but  is  noted 
for  his  profound  speculations.  Captain  Arteus  and  all  the  sailors  also 
agreed  with  him ;  that  when  a  sail  has  a  certain  sized  torn  opening,  the 
wind  is  eager  to  rush  towards  and  through  it,  which  creates  a  greater 
pressure  against  the  sail.  The  wind  is  impatient  and  eager  to  rush 
towards  a  hole. 

"It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  explain  what  the  magnificent  paint 
ings,  upon  which  we  are  now  feasting  our  eyes,  represent.  But  upon 
request  from  many  quarters  I  will  allude  to  same,  taking  the  least 
possible  time. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Phalerum  117 

"The  first  sail,  in  front,  extending  over  the  ship's  bow,  Captain  Arteus 
has  named  The  Dragon  Sail.  The  fierce  dragon  represents  only  one  of 
the  endless  kinds  of  monsters  that  rove  in  the  ocean,  near  the  end  of 
the  world.  Its  size  and  power  are  such  that  any  seaman  who  driven 
by  storms  near  it  is  devoured  and  the  ship  left  to  pass  over  the  edge 
of  the  world,  down — down  the  dark  abyss — to  destruction !  No  ship, 
the  seamen  say,  has  ever  sailed  so  far;  and  when  ships  have  been 
driven  far  out  to  sea,  and  have  not  returned,  it  is  beyond  all  doubt  that 
the  fate  of  the  seamen  and  the  ship  was  as  described.  The  Aeolus  is 
going  to  sail  only  a  small  fraction  of  such  a  vast  distance.  As  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  it  will  sail  in  a  different  direction,  as  its  outlined 
destination  shows,  and  will  never  encounter  the  rage  of  these  powerful 
sea  monsters.  You  may  meet  monsters  on  your  voyage;  but  according 
to  the  Phoenicians'  description  of  them,  the  size  of  the  Aeolus  may 
protect  you  from  harm. 

"The  large  whale  on  the  fore  topsail,  illustrates  one  of  the  many 
kinds  of  powerful  whales  that  delight  to  upset  boats  of  good  size — high 
in  the  air ;  its  occupants  sinking  helplessly  down  to  a  watery  grave. 

"The  sail  below  the  whale  sail,  Captain  Arteus  has  named  The  Iris 
(Rainbow)  Sail.  The  seven  colors  of  Iris'  beautifully  blended  hues 
embellish  this  fore  topsail,  true  to  nature,  as  we  see  it  after  the  subsi 
dence  of  a  storm.  It  also  indicates  that  Hope  is  at  the  prow  of  the  ship, 
which  is  related  to  courage,  and  which  in  turn  leads  to  success.  It 
also  indicates  that,  whatever  storms  and  obstacles  you  will  have  to  en 
counter,  the  rainbow  will  arch  over  your  voyage  at  its  successful  termi 
nation. 

"The  topmost  sail  on  the  second  mast  is  named  Diana  (Artemis). 
Goddess  of  the  Moon.  She  who  has  such  a  great  influence  with  the 
moon  is  certainly  entitled  to  your  special  worship,  and  worthy  of  being 
so  beautiful  an  ornament  of  the  Aeolus'  topmost  sail,  so  as  to  be  as 
near  the  moon  as  possible.  Much  more  could  I  say  in  honor  of  our  fair 
Goddess  Diana  if  the  fair  breeze  and  the  flight  of  time  did  not  bid  me 
hasten. 

"The  next  sail  below  Diana  is  named  the  Albatross.  All  the  sails 
have  been  named  by  Captain  Arteus,  for  there  never  was,  nor  never 
again  will  be,  a  ship  with  so  many  sails.  To  seafarers,  the  Albatross  is 
a  sacred  bird  and  whenever  one  alights  on  a  ship  it  is  a  good  omen.  To 
kill  or  disturb  an  albatross  is  punishable  with  death. 

"The  next  sail  below  the  Albatross,  as  we  cannot  fail  to  note,  is  the 
ship's  largest  and  principal  sail  and  has  been  appropriately  named  Nep 
tune  (Poseidon).  Neptune!  With  what  reverence  must  all  who  sail  out 
on  his  billowy  liquid  blue,  speak  his  name.  Neptune — the  God  of  the 
Sea !  This  god  of  the  endless,  restless  realm,  over  and  through  which 
your  Aeolus  must  cut  its  way.  Truly,  it  was  meet  that  the  largest  and 


118  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

most  important  sail  be  named  after  his  honored  name.  Never  before 
has  Neptune  been  portrayed  so  grandly — so  magnificently,  as  on  this 
large  sail  before  us.  Yes,  Neptune  has  been  truly  personified  as  known 
to  our  heroic  forefathers  moons  and  moons  ago — with  raised  trident, 
leading  his  steeds  over  his  billowy  realm,  standing  on  a  finely  curved, 
thin  sea-shell  (conch).  How  beautifully  and  realistically  the  blue 
waves  seem  in  natural  motion. 

"The  topmost  sail  on  the  third  mast  is  the  Phoebus  (Sun)  Sail.  The 
fine  painting  on  that  sail  illustrates  Athenians  greeting  the  rising  sun 
with  the  burning  of  incense.  Phcebus,  the  great  orb  of  day,  it  is  who 
warms  and  lights  up  and  makes  it  possible  for  us  to  live  and  see  the 
countless  beauties  of  the  world.  Phcebus,  who  imbues  and  endows  things 
with  warmth  and  life.  Wisely  do  we  worship  our  god  who  lights  us 
upon  our  way — the  god  who  is  the  heart  of  the  world,  from  which 
warm  life  and  light-giving  rays  dart  over  mountains,  sea  and  plain. 

"The  sail  below  the  Phcebus  sail  has  been  named  the  Incense,  indi 
cating  that  on  your  journey  incense  is  kept  burning  in  a  small  tripod 
incessantly  to  the  honor  of  all  the  gods,  so  that  its  sweet  odor  may  rise 
unceasingly. 

"The  next  sail  is  the  Mermaid  sail,  embellished  by  our  artists  with  a 
beautiful  mermaid,  of  which,  brave  adventurers,  you  can  consider  your 
selves  confederates  of  the  sea.  On  your  voyage,  you  will  undoubtedly 
have  the  pleasure  of  gazing  upon  their  handsome  forms  and  their 
graceful  movements  in  Neptune's  realm. 

"Argo  is  the  name  of  the  sail  of  the  last  mast  at  the  ship's  stern. 
We  all  know  that  many,  many  moons  past,  Jason,  a  prince,  accompanied 
by  the  most  renowned  heroes  of  his  time,  to  the  number  of  fifty,  sailed 
in  the  ship  Argo  in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece.  The  adventure  was  a 
success.  Our  artist  has  depicted  the  ship  Argo  and  its  heroes  with 
matchless  skill  and  beauty. 

"Yes,  the  Argonauts  sailed  in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece;  and 
your  valiant  adventure — your  voyage — is  also  in  search  of  the  Golden 
Fleece.  Commerce  is  what  you  have  named  it  instead.  Commerce  with 
distant  shores,  as  the  Phoenician  has  plainly  informed  us,  will  waft 
precious  jewels,  metals  and  gold  to  our  shores. 

"To  quote  Ithobal :  'The  ship  bringeth  abundance  from  afar.'  Yes, 
you  are  also  embarked  upon  a  voyage  in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  to 
the  honor,  welfare,  power,  greatness  and  glory  of  our  beloved  Athens. 
Your  helmsmen,  as  they  look  on  the  bending  sail,  just  ahead  and  above 
them,  seeing  the  painting  of  the  Argo,  in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece, 
cannot  fail  to  be  reminded  of  what  they  themselves  are  also  steering 
for — the  Golden  Fleece. 

"Oh,  we  implore  all  the  gods ;  may  this  expedition  also  prove  as  suc 
cessful  as  was  that  of  the  Argo. 


The  Ship's  Departure  from  Pharleum  119 

"Having  feasted  our  eyes  on  the  wonderful  beauty  of  each  of  the 
paintings  of  the  various  sails  singly,  let  us  now  widen  our  vision  and 
look  at  all  the  paintings  and  sails  and  ship  Aeolus,  including  its  noble 
adventurers;  but  do  not  expect  me  to  further  describe  the  grandeur, 
beauty  and  nobility  of  the  scene,  for  all  language  is  too  weak  to  give 
adequate  expression  to  the  feeling  of  solemnity,  beauty  and  grandeur  it 
creates  in  the  heart  of  all  of  us  God-favored  beholders.  On  distant 
shores,  you  cannot  expect  to  find  connoisseurs  of  art;  but  even  to  the 
untutored,  such  a  scene  as  is  before  us — art,  true  to  nature,  cannot  fail 
to  move  the  beholder's  curiosity,  delight  and  appreciation,  mingled  with 
a  feeling  of  awe  for  the  country  from  which  such  ship  must  have  sailed. 
Behold  the  Aeolus  with  its  sails  all  spread;  truly  it  is  a  grand  canvas- 
winged  chariot !  At  a  far  distance,  its  brilliant  sails  will  make  the  ship 
appear  like  a  large,  gaudy  butterfly,  wafted  o'er  the  waters." 

Philostenes  continued: 

"Zeus !  In  thy  majesty,  god  of  gods,  oh  may  we  humbly  implore 
thee,  move  all  the  gods  that  dwell  on  Mt.  Olympus  high,  to  lean  favor 
ably  towards  this  grand  commercial  undertaking.  O  Zeus! — 

All  Nature  sings  thy  praise 
In  multitudinous  ways. 

"O  Zeus,  thy  power  and  wisdom  extendeth  as  far  as  the  north  is 
from  the  south  and  the  east  is  from  the  west. 

Zeus  above,  below,  around — 
Where'er  the  spaces  do  abound, 
You  are  here — you  are  there, 
Your  power  and  love  is  everywhere. 

"We  humbly  implore  thee,  O  Zeus,  may  this  great  adventure  receive 
your  favor  and  may  we  humbly  hope  that  the  sweet  odor  of  the  incense 
extraordinary  be  acceptable  and  pleasing  unto  thee. 

"O  Zeus,  our  hearts  are  in  all  our  sacrifices  and  our  humble  prayers 
to  thee,  O  Zeus,  are  in  our  hearts  also." 

It  was  high  time  that  the  ceremonies  came  to  an  end,  for  through 
the  increasing  breeze  the  ship's  moorings  were  giving  way,  and  as  all 
was  in  readiness,  the  ropes  were  loosened  and  the  ship  sped  on  its 
course  toward  the  open  sea,  like  a  huge  wing-raised  swan,  before  the 
breeze.  As  the  ship  tore  itself  away  from  the  wharf,  the  ship's  voy 
agers  sang  an  invocation,  accompanied  by  the  voyager's  musicians,  as 
follows : 

O  Poseidon!    O  Poseidon! 

Thy  favor  we  implore, 
O  Monarch  of  the  deep  blue  seas, 
Combine  with  Aeolus'  favoring  breeze, 
So  we  may  all  return  again 

To  this  our  Attic  shore. 


120  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

A  general  stirring  and  running  to  and  fro  and  cheering  on  land  and 
sea,  attended  the  grand  ship's  departure.    Philostenes  shouted  out: 

"Speed  on,  fair  ship,  o'er  the  waters  blue! 
Farewell — farewell — to  all  of  you, 
May  the  Gods,  the  helmsman  guide 
Safely  o'er  the  waters  wide!" 


CHAPTER  VI 

RECORDS   OF  THE  SCRIBES  ON  THE  SHIP 

"On  the  wharf,  loosen  all  the  ropes !"  was  Captain  Arteus'  command. 
The  Aeolus  moves !  She  sails !  Endless  cheers  on  wharf,  shore  and  on 
the  triremes  and  small  boats  greet  our  departure.  Majestically  the 
grand  ship  passes  through  the  sea,  bestrewn  with  wreaths  and  flowers, 
faster  and  faster.  Ahead  of  the  ship  many  small  boats  are  still  throw 
ing  wreaths  and  flowers  on  the  waters.  The  invocation  to  Poseidon 
(Neptune)  sung  by  the  voyagers  upon  the  loosening  of  the  ropes  on  the 
wharf,  is  just  finished.  It  was  sung  with  deep  earnestness  and  wonder 
ful  power,  resounding  above  the  cheers  on  shore  and  wharf.  A  number 
of  the  voyagers  were  taking  a  farewell  look  from  the  cross-trees  at 
Athens,  on  the  Acropolis  of  which  a  large  number  of  people  were  view 
ing  the  departure  of  the  Aeolus  from  a  distance. 

Captain  Arteus,  who  had  thus  far  stood  within  close  speaking  dis 
tance  of  the  helmsman,  went  over  to  the  prow  of  the  ship.  A  sailor 
watch  on  the  front  cross-tree,  called  down:  "Ship  ahead;"  but  as  the 
Aeolus  had  left  all  the  other  boats  behind,  no  ship  was  to  be  seen.  But 
the  Captain,  who  understood  the  watch,  made  it  known  that  the  mini 
ature  sacrifice  ship  Aeolus,  of  honey  and  flour,  had  been  sighted. 

The  Aeolus  sped  along,  cutting  the  waters  to  foam  at  a  great 
speed.  The  creaking  of  the  yards,  masts  and  rigging  seemed  to  vie 
with  the  siging  of  the  wind.  The  miniature  Aeolus  was  in  plain  view 
on  the  leeward  side  of  the  ship,  with  all  sails  well  set;  it  sailed  as  if 
under  command  on  its  course,  with  the  wind.  It  is  a  pleasing  picture 
for  the  eye  to  behold,  and  being  a  sacrifice  to  Neptune,  makes  it 
doubly  so.  The  captain,  as  well  as  all  the  voyagers,  are  pleased  that 
the  sacrifice  ship  has  been  honored  by  being  allowed  to  pass  through 
the  large  number  of  small  boats  unmolested.  In  time  the  sacrifice  ship, 
Aeolus,  will  be  dissolved  by  the  water  and  consumed  by  the  God  of 
Waters,  Neptune,  who,  it  is  hoped,  will  relish  the  flour  and  honey  ship, 
equal  to  Ambrosia.  Onward  on  our  southerly  course,  pressed  by  fair 
winds,  the  ship  is  dashing  through  the  splashing,  sizzing,  rising  foam 
at  the  prow,  at  a  tremendous  rate  of  speed.  Several  of  the  maidens 
have  ventured  to  ask  the  second  officer  whether  the  ship  was  not  sailing 
too  fast.  He  replied:  "The  two  men  who  are  below,  inside,  at  the 
prow,  feeling  whether  the  planks  are  getting  warm  from  the  ship's 
great  speed  through  the  water,  have  reported  that  they  can  not  feel 

121 


122  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

warmth  on  the  planks.  The  planks  do  not  feel  as  cool  as  when  the 
ship  was  lying  still  at  the  wharf.  The  ship,"  continued  the  second  of 
ficer,  "is  sailing  as  fast  now,  as  it  ever  will,  all  sails  being  set  and  a 
fair  breeze.  It  is  flying  through  the  water.  We  will  soon  know  whether 
there  will  be  any  danger  of  the  ship  burning  from  sailing  through  the 
water  at  too  great  a  speed." 

The  ship's  masts  and  sails  are  certainly  under  a  great  strain. 
There  are  two  men  at  the  helm.  Captain  Arteus  is  standing  beside 
them.  All  on  shipboard  also  seem  to  be  under  a  great  strain,  in  har 
mony  with  the  ship,  for  very  little  moving  about  or  talking  is  taking 
place.  The  Captain's  orders  are  being  repeated  from  the  second  to  the 
third  sailor  at  the  prow.  The  orders  also  are  repeated  down  by  the 
sailors  up  in  the  cross-trees.  The  two  highest  sails  on  each  mast  are 
being  taken  in.  This  seems  to  relieve  the  strain  all  around,  ship  and 
voyagers. 

"How  beautifully  we  are  now  going,  going — where?"  I  hear  one  of 
the  officers  say.  "The  hole  in  each  of  the  many  sails  draws  the  wind 
against  the  sail  in  great  force.  We  seldom  need  to  carry  the  topsails, 
for  the  draught,  suction  through  the  holes  in  the  center  of  each  sail  in 
creases  the  pressure  against  the  sail." 

"Tripod,  tripod,  to  leeward,"  calls  down  the  watch  from  the  cross- 
trees.  All  are  looking  in  the  direction  pointed  out  and  now  we  see  the 
tripod  with  its  four  small  rainbow  flags  waving  in  the  breeze  and  the 
incense  still  faintly  smoking.  I  hear  Utopas  say :  "That  tripod  knows 
whither  it  is  drifting  or  sailing  about  as  well  as  we  know.  The  only 
difference  is,  it  is  drifting  onward  and  we  are  rushing  onward — 
whither?" 

The  numerous  boats  at  Phalerum  are  growing  dimmer  and  dimmer. 
Our  course  lies  along  the  Attic  shore  to  keep  awaj  from  Aegina  as  far 
as  possible.  The  Isle  of  Aegina  lies  plainly  visible  to  our  right.  Again 
from  the  cross-trees,  we  hear:  "Triremes  ahead." 

Captain  Arteus  calls  out:  "Marstenes!"  Marstenes  holds  a  conver 
sation  with  the  Captain.  Marstenes  gives  orders  that  all  the  maidens  on 
the  cross-trees  and  all  on  deck  should  be  ready  to  go  to  their  quarters 
under  deck.  The  several  boats  and  triremes  ahead  are  surmised  to  be 
Aeginian  ships,  whose  enmity  to  our  commercial  endeavors  we  must 
expect  beyond  all  doubt.  Marstenes'  orders  resound :  "Man  the  cata 
pults  at  bow  and  stern ;  draw  out  the  dolphins  on  all  the  lower  yard 
arms ;  overlap  all  bulwarks.  Warriors  all  arm."  The  hurrying,  rustling 
of  bronze  shields  and  the  donning  of  armor  resounds  over  the  ship. 

Cynthia  appeared  on  deck,  informing  Marstenes  that  she  had  been 
sent  up  to  inquire  whether  their  assistance  was  desired.  Marstenes 
replied:  "You  have  nothing  to  inquire;  you  must  obey  and  await 
orders." 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Ship  123 

The  bulwarks  are  overlapped;  wide  planks  extending  over  their 
edges,  so  as  to  make  it  difficult  of  climbing  up  on  the  ship. 

Marstenes  commands:  "On  each  side,  fall  in  line."  This  brings 
the  warriors  standing  in  line  on  each  side  of  the  ship  facing  the  sea. 
Each  warrior  is  armed  with  shield,  spear,  stone  war  club,  and  several 
with  bows  and  arrows.  Three  large  boxes,  filled  with  stones  of  various 
sizes  are  placed  equidistant  apart  on  the  deck.  Marstenes  and  Captain 
Arteus  hold  a  conference.  The  ship  is  turning  out  of  its  course  to  pass 
the  Aeginian  ship  to  the  east. 

"The  helmsmen,"  says  Marstenes  to  our  warriors,  "will  not  again 
change  the  course  of  the  ship  to  avoid  the  Aeginians.  If  the  Aeginians 
sail  and  row  on  our  ship's  course,  we  will  take  no  notice  of  them,  ex 
cepting  to  guard  against  any  attempt  to  board  our  ship  or  to  interfere  in 
any  way." 

There  are  six  boats  and  two  triremes,  larger  than  any  of  our  Ath 
enian  boats  in  the  Bay  of  Phalerum.  The  Aeginians  do  not  seem  to 
realize  the  size  of  our  Aeolus.  They  imagine,  perhaps,  that  numbers  may 
count.  The  Aeginians  are  sailing  as  if  to  intercept  our  course.  The 
watch  on  the  front  cross-tree  is  calling  down:  "The  two  largest  tri 
remes  have  a  long,  strong,  sharp  pointed  mast  extending  from  their 
prow,  just  below  the  water." 

And  again  from  the  watch  above :  "The  men  on  the  boats  are  armed 
for  battle."  Marstenes,  after  a  consultation  with  Captain  Arteus,  says 
to  our  warriors:  "Slay  no  Aeginian  except  in  forced  combat.  At  this 
starting  of  our  voyage,  while  still  in  the  sight  of  Aegina  and  our  Attic 
shores,  our  spears,  clubs  and  stones  should  not  thirst  for  blood.  We 
must  reserve  our  shields,  slings,  stones,  catapults,  spears  for  far-off  seas, 
yet  unknown.  The  Aeginians  in  front  of  us  have  placed  themselves  in  a 
position  as  if  we  are  to  sail  between  them."  "Our  course  will  not  be 
changed,"  shouts  Captain  Arteus  to  Marstenes.  Our  great  ship  is  flying 
onward,  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  Aeginians.  To  them,  it  must  be  a  great 
sight  to  behold.  Our  young  men  warriors  are  facing  to  the  prow  of  the 
ship.  A  young  warrior  is  standing  at  each  of  the  eight  ropes,  ready  to 
pull  and  untie  the  slipknot  by  which  the  heavy  rock  dolphins  are  sus 
pended  over  the  waters  at  the  ends  of  the  lower  yard  arms. 

It  is  my  privilege  to  be  all  over  the  ship.  I  am  now  on  the  prow  of 
the  ship.  Our  ship  is  so  close  now  that  we  must  sail  toward  one  side 
or  run  into  them.  How  small  the  otherwise  great  Aeginians  must  feel  at 
the  sight  of  our  Aeolus  looming  far  above  them ! 

It  seems  to  me  that  they  would  drop  their  shields,  spears  and  bows 
for  wonderment.  On  each  side  in  front  of  us,  a  trireme  with  a  lateen 
sail  and  about  forty  rowers,  is  making  heroic  efforts  to  run  into  our 
ship.  A  long,  sharp  pointed  tree,  projecting  from  the  prow  of  each,  is 
just  visible  under  the  waters.  One  trireme  has  just  sailed  in  front  of 


124  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

our  prow.  The  force  of  our  Aeolus  has  turned  it  on  its  side  and  it  is 
filling  with  water.  Our  ship  is  sailing  on  unimpeded  on  its  course.  The 
capsized  trireme  is  passing  along  the  ship's  side.  Some  are  swimming 
and  others  are  clinging  to  the  side  of  the  ship.  Marstenes  calls  out: 
"Slay  none."  Our  warriors  shout  out  in  hearty  huzzas.  Our  Nestor 
shouts  to  the  Aeginians  clinging  to  their  ship :  "In  vain !  In  vain !  At 
tempt  not  to  destroy  the  ship  the  Gods  have  built."  Rionotis,  standing 
at  the  stern  of  the  ship,  with  war  club  in  hand,  shouted  to  the 
Aeginians : 

A  nation,  to  be  grand, 
Must  rule  on  sea  and  land ! 

"I  hope,"  said  Nestor,  "they  haven't  heard  that.  That  fact  should 
be  kept  a  secret  and  should  not  be  made  known  to  other  peoples." 

Marstenes,  in  order  to  show  to  all  the  ships  and  boats  just  passed 
what  crushing  blows  our  dolphins  could  have  dealt,  ordered  one  rock 
dolphin  to  be  dropped  by  the  pulling  of  the  slipknot  from  one  of  the 
yards.  The  tremendous  force  and  weight  with  which  the  ponderous 
rock  struck  the  sea  plainly  indicated  that  the  dropping  of  these  dolphins 
into  a  boat  would  surely  cause  a  great  leak,  or  more  likely  crush 
through  the  bottom  of  a  boat. 

Our  Aeolus  is  sailing  on.  The  boats  that  were  too  slow,  or  did  not 
venture  to  run  into  our  ship,  are  all  rowing  to  the  capsized  trireme. 

Marstenes  orders:  "Warriors,  disarm."  The  maidens  are  called  to 
appear  on  deck.  Upon  ascending  the  rostrum  on  the  center  of  the  deck, 
Marstenes  said :  "The  Aeginians  must  certainly  have  heard  of  our  great 
ship  and  its  purpose.  Philostenes,  in  his  farewell  address,  was  right, 
when  he  warned  us  to  keep  out  of  sight  of  the  Aeginians.  Their  pres 
ence  on  our  course  along  our  Attic  shore  indicates  how  determined  they 
were  to  capture  or  sink  and  destroy  our  great  ship.  The  two  large 
triremes  were  built  with  long  sharp  pointed  trees  projecting  under  the 
water  from  the  prow  for  the  purpose  of  sinking  our  ship,  regardless  of 
their  own  fate.  To  the  east  loom  still  our  Attic  hills ;  but  after  the  next 
rising  of  the  sun,  we  will  be  in  waters  strange.  Hereafter  many  a  time 
may  come  when  the  assistance  of  all  on  shipboard  will  be  needed  for 
defense  against  pirates  and  sea  rovers.  In  such  times,  none  need  to 
inquire,  but  all  will  have  to  be  on  the  alert  to  act  in  harmony  with  the 
orders  given,  so  as  to  secure  the  greatest  effectual  results.  Little  will 
the  Aeginians  say  of  their  attempt  to  destroy  the  Aelous."  Euphon, 
pointing,  said: 

"Take  a  look  at  the  Attic  shore, 
For  we  may  never,  never  more, 
Behold  our  native  hills  again."  ,  .  • 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Ship  125 

Hellonia  spoke  up  and  replied  : 

O  Pessimist!   O  Pessimist!    Why  speakest  thou  this  way? 
'Tis  meet  that  thou  shouldst  rather  sing  an  optimistic  lay. 

Marstenes,  who  was  standing  near,  walked  up  to  the  garlands  and 
flowers  which  are  to  be  strewn  upon  the  ocean  as  an  ornamental  sacri 
fice  to  Neptune,  plucked  a  small  red  flower  and  green  cedar  twig  and 
returning1,  presented  the  same  to  Hellonia,  saying:  "Your  answer 
to  Euphon  embodies  the  true  spirit  necessary  to  the  success  of  our 
voyage." 

Many  of  the  maidens  and  young1  men  g-athered  around  Hellonia 
to  inquire  what  she  had  said.  Her  answer  was :  "Ask  Euphon." 

Aristotlus,  viewing  our  fast  fading  native  shores,  composed  a  fare 
well  song.  A  large  number  of  our  maiden  and  men  voyagers  gathered 
at  the  stern  of  the  ship  to  sing  it  to  a  charming,  well  known  Grecian 
melody,  which  they  sang  with  deep  feeling. 

Farewell,  our  hills,  farewell,  our  rills, 

Farewell,  our  Attic  shore ! 
We  are  sailing  now,  with  foaming  prow, 

To  lands  not  known  before. 
Where'er  we  land  and  take  our  stand — 

Where'er  O  that  may  be! 
There  we  will  show  and  men  will  know 

Our  love  of  liberty. 
Undaunted,  brave,  on  land  and  wave, 

With  spirit  ever  free, 
With  heart  and  hand,  O  Attic  land, 

We  love  and  honor  Thee. 

Diagorax,  of  the  committee  of  rules  and  orders,  ascended  the  ros 
trum,  struck  on  his  bronze  shield  and  said : 

"Our  committee  believes  that  in  order  to  preserve  our  strength  and 
dexterity,  which  we  all  will  be  in  need  of  so  much  on  this  voyage,  that 
in  addition  to  our  warriors  and  athletic  drills,  there  should  be  a  daily 
mast-climbing,  regardless  of  storm  or  weather.  Our  committee  will 
start  at  the  ratlines  of  the  third  and  fourth  masts  on  the  leeward  side 
and  descend  from  the  cross-trees  to  the  windward  side.  The  maidens 
will  ascend  the  first  and  second  masts  on  the  windward  side  and 
descend  on  the  leeward  side." 

Upon  striking  the  shield,  followed  by  orders,  the  shrouds  of  the 
masts  were  soon  filled  with  climbing  voyagers.  Diagorax,  who  was 
in  the  lead,  shouted  from  the  cross-tree :  "This  is  not  a  rigging  chase, 
Haste  is  not  desired."  The  maidens  seem  to  be  in  a  greater  hurry  to 
reach  the  cross-trees  than  are  our  young  men.  The  wind  is  whistling 
through  the  rigging  and  the  ship  is  plowing  through  the  splashing, 
heaving  waves  at  a  great  speed.  The  white-crested  waves  on  either 
side  are  gaining  in  size.  The  mast-climbing  is  finished  and  all  are  on 


126  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

deck  again.  From  the  watch  on  the  front  cross-tree  we  hear:  "All 
land  is  out  of  sight,"  which  is  echoed  below  by  one  of  the  officers.  The 
committee  of  rules  and  orders  are  holding  a  consultation. 

Orato  ascends  the  rostrum.  Orato,  after  having  lighted  the  incense 
at  his  side,  said :  "We  are  now  out  of  sight  of  land.  There  is  nothing 
that  meets  the  eye,  except  the  rising  and  falling  white-crested  billows 
around  and  the  golden  orb  of  day  in  the  clear  deep  blue  vault  above, 
O,  Neptune !  To  Thee,  we  burn  this  incense  and  to  Thee  we  place  as  an 
ornamental  offering,  wreaths  of  fairest  flowers  and  greens  upon  Thy 
wide,  restless,  heaving  bosom.  Here  upon  the  waters  where  the  golden 
eye  of  day  and  the  squint-eyed  moon  may  behold  them  in  their  beauty 
and  loveliness.  May  their  perfume  be  a  delight  to  Thee,  O,  Neptune. 

"At  the  bottom  of  Thy  great  waters,  O  Neptune,  which  extend  to  the 
ends  of  the  world,  we  know,  secreted  from  our  view,  lie  scattered  in 
great  variety,  precious  glittering  metals,  gold  and  silver,  rare  pearls  and 
sparkling  gems.  In  offering  also,  O  Neptune,  this  golden  anchor  to 
Thee,  as  an  ornamental  sacrifice,  we  know  that  it  will  be  incomparably 
small  in  quantity  to  the  gold  secreted  under  thy  waters.  But  this  tiny 
golden  anchor,  which  I  now  pass  over  to  Leone,  who  now  casts  it 
over  the  ship's  bulwark,  far  out  into  the  sea,  is  the  handiwork  of  one 
of  our  most  skillful  goldsmiths  of  Athens.  At  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  O 
Neptune,  may  its  glitter  be  pleasing  in  thy  sight  and  may  it  remind 
Thee  of  the  need  our  great  commercial  adventure  has  of  your  favor 
and  assistance.  Endless  moons — generations  after  we  have  passed  to 
the  realms  of  darkness,  may  its  bright  presence,  O  Neptune,  also  incline 
you  to  favor  our  Athenian  race  with  propitious  tides  and  seas  where'er 
their  ships  may  row,  drift  or  sail  upon  Thy  ever-heaving  waters.  Sea- 
monsters.,  sea-serpents  and  the  finny  tribe,  roving  within  the  bounds  of 
thy  glassy  swaying  realm,  will  eye  the  shining  anchor  with  strange 
curiosity  and  mermaids  will  crowd  around  and  behold  it  with  longing 
admiration — to  time  without  end,  O  Neptune." 

The  honor  of  casting  the  golden  anchor  out  into  the  sea  was  be 
stowed  upon  Leone,  because  she  had  won  the  first  prize  at  Athens 
for  long  distance  pebble  throwing.  "Our  ship,"  says  Captain  Arteus,  "is 
sailing  in  a  southerly  direction.  The  wind  has  lessened  in  force.  If  it 
were  not  now  nearing  the  close  of  day,  I  would  have  given  orders  to 
spread  all  the  top  sails.  Phoebus  (Helios)  has  lighted  our  ship  well 
upon  its  course  this  day." 

The  sun  is  sinking  down  the  deep  abyss  at  the  west  end  of  the 
world.  When  set  far  enough,  it  will  immediately  begin  its  southerly 
course  around  the  world's  side,  to  rise  again  in  the  east  in  the  morning. 
How  beautiful  our  first  sunset  at  sea!  One  should  think  the  western 
waters  would  sizzle  from  the  nearness  of  the  sun's  heat.  The  living 
western  sea  glitters  in  gold-like  splendor.  The  sun  is  lowering  down— 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Ship  127 

down — down  out  of  sight.  But  the  western  vault  above  is  still  beauti 
fully  aglow  from  the  flood  of  light  streaming  up  and  from  the  sun  in  the 
deep  abyss  at  the  world's  side.  At  his  setting  Phoebus  lights  up  all  the 
stars  with  his  torch  and  also  the  moon,  until  it  burns  out,  when  he 
relights  it  again  and  again  endlessly,  all  of  which,  as  darkness  draws 
nearer  and  nearer,  brighter  and  brighter  their  light  comes  to  view. 
Thus  the  torch  of  Phoebus  lessens  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

What  a  charming  close  to  our  first  day  on  the  broad  open  sea !  All 
the  voyagers  seem  to  be  delighted.  The  gentle  clucking  of  the  waters 
against  the  the  ship's  prow  indicates  that  the  breeze  has  slackened. 
Complete  darkness  would  now  hold  sway  if  it  were  not  for  the  myriads 
of  lamps  in  the  vault  above  and  Diana  (Artemis),  Queen  of  night,  who 
is  now  looking  down  upon  us  with  her  face  partly  tossed  to  one  side, 
her  orb  not  being  fully  rounded,  for  the  Oracle  of  Delphi  set  the  day  of 
our  departure:  "On  the  first  day  following  the  first  full  moon  after 
night  and  day  were  equal  in  the  spring  time  of  the  year." 

Here  comes  on  deck  Anaxogerous  and  Militos,  my  assistant  scribes. 
Anaxogerous  records  the  events  during  the  night  from  sunset  to  sunrise. 
Militos  will  only  be  required  to  act  as  scribe  in  case  of  the  illness  or 
death  of  myself  or  Anaxogerous.  Anaxogerous  now  succeeds  me  for  the 
night. 

Anaxogerous :  "The  sun  has  set  in  the  west  and  the  moon  and  stars 
are  increasing  in  brilliancy  overhead.  The  ship  is  sailing  in  a  south 
westerly  direction.  Captain  Arteus  says  that  in  the  morning  he  ex 
pects  to  land  at  Gythium,  our  first  stopping  place.  Gythium  is  the 
farthest  point  to  which  Captain  Arteus  and  all  the  other  seamen  ever 
sailed.  Pindarus,  one  of  the  members  of  the  rules  of  order,  is  striking 
his  shield  with  his  clinched  hand,  at  the  same  time  informing  the 
maiden  voyagers  that  it  is  two  sands  of  time  after  sunset,  at  which,  in 
harmony  with  the  rules  of  order,  the  maidens  are  to  return  below  deck 
to  their  hall  or  quarters.  'Now,'  Nestorius  says,  'it  is  kind  of  looming 
up  to  me  that  our  landspeople,  who  made  most  of  the  rules  of  order, 
were  not  well  enough  informed  as  to  the  condition  of  things  out  on  the 
sea.  They  were  not  upon  the  grounds,  or  upon  the  water  rather,  so  to 
speak,  and  can  hardly  be  expected  to  make  rules  of  order  to  suit  the 
surrounding  conditions  out  upon  the  sea.  One  old  saying  says:  'A 
king  can  not  well  make  laws  suitable  to  the  conditions  of  subjects  living 
in  far-off  distant  lands.'  We  will  undoubtedly,  find  changes  desirable 
as  we  proceed  upon  our  journey.  In  groups,  the  men  voyagers  are  also 
gradually  retiring  below  decks  to  their  halls  and  quarters.  Now  only 
the  second  commander  and  seamen  are  on  deck. 

"It  has  been  a  long  day,  beginning  even  before  early  dawn.  How 
majestically  and  quietly  the  Aeolus  is  sailing  on  its  course  over  the 
waters  with  moon-gilt  wavelets  glistening  on  all  sides !  The  single  soli- 


128  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

tary  steersman  at  the  helm  guides  the  ship  on  its  course  with  the  least 
of  effort  and  with  ease.  What  time  can  be  more  beautiful,  soothing  and 
restful  upon  the  great  waters  than  a  clear,  quiet  moonlight  night?  Over 
the  ship's  prow  nothing  meets  the  eye  but  lively,  leaping,  glistening 
wavelets.  From  the  watch  on  the  front  cross-tree  is  heard:  'Sea- 
monsters  to  leeward.' 

"The  second  commander  sends  a  seaman  to  call  up  Polybus,  the 
ship's  magician.  The  magician  claims  that  he  can  discern  objects  at  a 
much  greater  distance  than  any  one  on  ship  board;  he  can  see  things 
night  or  day  or  in  a  fog  that  others  can  not  see.  Polybus  ascends  up  to 
the  cross-trees.  Upon  descending  to  the  deck  again,  he  said  that  he 
would  go  down  to  his  dark  room  at  once,  return  and  again  ascend  the 
cross-tree. 

"  'The  ship,'  says  the  second  commander,  'will  not  sail  towards  the 
sea  monsters,  but  will  keep  on  its  course  towards  Gythium.' 

"Polybus  calls  down:  'It  is  the  old  man  of  the  sea,  leaning  on  the 
roots  of  a  large  floating  tree.  The  same  old  man  of  tne  sea,  I  believe, 
that  talked  in  a  sea-roaring  voice  to  us  from  the  prow  of  our  ship 
early  on  the  morning  of  our  departure.' 

"We  can  hear  a  sea-like  roaring  voice  in  the  distance.  It  is  very 
likely  intended  as  a  greeting.  He  is  holding  his  long  dark  sea  green 
hair  aloft  in  one  hand.  It  is  hoped  that  he  has  no  desire  to  come  to  us. 
Our  ship  is  leaving  him  in  the  dim  distance. 

"The  second  commander  sent  a  seaman  down  to  inform  Meander  and 
the  other  committees  of  rule  and  order  that  it  was  nearing  midnight, 
so  that  preparations  could  be  made  for  the  worship  with  giving  of  sacri 
fice  to  Diana,  Goddess  of  the  Moon. 

"Meander,  accompanied  by  Orato,  priest  of  ceremonies  of  the  Gods, 
appeared  upon  deck.  Meander  returned  below  decks  to  inform  all  the 
voyagers  of  the  approaching  midnight,  at  which  time,  upon  this  first 
night  on  the  sea,  all  are  to  participate  in  the  worship  of  Diana.  Not 
a  more  propitious  time  could  be  desired.  A  clear  sky,  and  gentle  mid 
night  breeze. 

"The  voyagers  appeared  on  deck  in  groups  of  maidens  and  men. 
They  are  all  now  on  deck,  arrayed  in  their  most  costly  garments  in 
honor  of  Diana,  Goddess  of  the  Moon. 

"Orato  now  ascends  the  rostrum.  After  lighting  the  incense  in  the 
tripod  at  his  side,  Orato  said :  "Tis  midnight's  mystic  hour,  when  man's 
weakness  and  fear  is  highest;  his  courage,  strength  and  helpfulness  the 
lowest.  Things  we  look  at  smilingly,  with  a  light  heart  in  the  day  time, 
at  midnight  burden  the  heart.  'Tis  meet  that  upon  this,  our  first  mid 
night  upon  Neptune's  heaving  realm,  we  humbly  implore  Diana,  God 
dess  of  the  ever-changing  moon.  Diana !  Goddess  of  the  moon,  by  im 
ploring  Thy  silvery  moon,  we  also  honor  Thee.  Our  sacrifice,  O  Diana, 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Shift  129 

is  for  Thee  and  Thy  silvery  moon.  Thou  art,  O  Moon,  the  landmark  of 
time.  By  Thee,  we  measure  and  set  the  passing  and  coming  of  events. 
The  Oracle  at  Delphi,  O  Moon,  in  setting  the  time  for  our  ship's  de 
parture,  referred  to  Thee,  O  Moon,  prominently.  From  the  repeating 
roundings  of  Thy  orb,  O  Moon,  the  duration  of  our  lives  also  are 
measured.  O  Moon !  Lit  by  the  torch  of  Helios,  Thou  glowest  and 
glowest  until  full-rounded  is  Thy  orb,  gradually  lessening  and  lessening 
only  to  be  re-lit  again.  O  Moon !  The  sun,  whose  torch  touches  Thee  to 
glow,  is  always  only  visible  in  the  day  time,  but  Thou  hast  been  priv 
ileged,  O  Moon,  at  times,  to  roam  in  the  blue  vault  above,  by  day  as  well 
as  by  night;  Thou  art,  therefore,  O  Moon,  a  privileged  character,  as  it 
were.  O  Fair  Diana,  behold,  on  our  topmost  sail,  a  god-inspired  artist 
has  portrayed  Thee ;  may  Thy  portraiture  on  the  topmost  sail  be  pleas 
ing  to  Thine  eye  and  our  fair  ship,  proudly  unfurling  the  same  to  the 
breeze,  may  we  humbly  implore  Thee,  O  Diana,  may  it  receive  Thy 
favor  as  Thou  journeyest  over  the  blue  vault  above  whether  Thou  waxest 
or  whether  Thou  wanest,  O  Diana.  The  wavelets  of  the  sea,  O  Diana 
(Artemis),  receive  Thy  silvery  glances  with  leaping  joy.  O  Moon,  enemy 
of  darkness!  As  Thou  lightest  the  lonely  traveler  on  his  way,  so  too, 
we  invoke  Thee,  light  us  upon  our  watery  pathway,  from  dangers  free. 
Queen  of  the  Night !  O,  we  implore  Thee !  Please  accept  as  a  sacrifice, 
the  large  full-orbed  cake  with  fourteen  lighted  candles  stuck  in  same, 
which  has  just  been  placed  upon  the  waters  by  one  of  our  precious 
maidens.  May  its  lights  remind  Thee  of  thy  waxing  and  Thy  waning 
glow  and  may  the  sacrifice  be  pleasing  in  Thy  sight.'  All  the  voyagers 
joined  in  singing  a  short 

INVOCATION  TO  THE  MOON. 

Fair  Diana,  may  your  light, 
So  silvery  clear  and  wondrous  bright, 
Shine  down  on  Neptune's  liquid  realm, 
So  that  the  steersman  at  the  helm 
May  guide  our  ship  on  courses  right 
Through  all  the  dangers  of  the  night, 
Diana  fair,  queen  of  the  Night! 

"In  the  quiet  midnight  hour,  the  musical  invocation  harmoniously 
floated  out  over  the  waters. 

"From  the  watch  on  the  front  cross-trees:  'To  the  leeward!  Mer 
maids  !  Mermaids !' 

"All  eyes  turned  in  the  direction  announced.  There  in  the  distance, 
as  if  sitting  in  the  water,  appeared  plainly  to  view,  a  bevy  of  mermaids. 
Taking  a  long  leap  over  the  water,  they  all  dove  out  of  sight.  Not  only 
their  arms  and  heads,  but  their  full  tails  were  plainly  seen.  Remaining 
only  a  short  time  under  water,  they  all  appeared  to  view  again  as  if 
standing  waist-deep  or  sitting  in  the  water.  Their  silvery  scales  from 


130  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

waist  down  glistened  beautifully  in  the  bright  moonlight.  Poly  bus,  the 
magician,  who  by  himself,  took  observations  from  the  stern  of  the  ship, 
said:  'They  are  beautiful  mermaids;  their  heads  are  covered  with  a 
wealth  of  long,  dark,  sea-green  hair.  Their  large  beautiful  eyes,  even 
from  the  distance,  sparkle  as  if  they  live  for  love.' 

"Captain  Arteus,  expecting  that  he  would  be  asked  to  sail  the  ship 
towards  the  mermaids,  said :  'The  ship  will  not  change  from  its  course 
to  Gythium.' 

"It  was  suggested  that  the  ship's  voyager  musicians  with  harp,  lute 
and  lyre,  should  play  a  swaying  air  in  honor  of  the  mermaids.  Almost 
immediately  upon  listening  to  the  music,  they  showed  a  lively  interest 
in  same  by  dancing  up  and  down  in  the  water  in  rhythmic  time.  Several 
of  the  young  men  stood  upon  the  ship's  bulwarks  and  joined  hands. 
The  mermaids,  noticing  them,  also  all  joined  hands  and  as  well  as  mer 
maids  can,  moved  around  in  a  circle  in  rhythmic  time. 

"The  young  men  unclasped  hands  and  acted  as  though  they  were 
dancing  separately.  The  mermaids  soon  followed,  dancing  around  and 
around,  holding  their  long  hair  aloft  with  one  hand.  As  the  music  on 
the  ship  ceased,  the  mermaids  again  resumed  their  sitting  position  in  the 
water.  'They  are  singing,  they  are  singing,  they  are  singing,'  was  upon 
the  lips  of  our  voyagers. 

"Surely  they  were  singing,  their  unintelligible  song  striking  our  ears 
softly,  sweetly  from  over  the  waters.  The  soft  water-tingling  sounds 
were  agreeable  in  a  novel  way  to  our  ears.  The  quality  of  the  voices 
was  difficult  to  define,  the  music  being  a  sweet,  agreeable  combination 
of  soft,  water-tingling  tones,  wholly  different  from  the  sounds  of  the 
human  voice. 

"Perfect  silence  prevailed  on  our  ship,  all  listening  attentively,  trying 
to  catch  the  exquisitively  charming  liquid  notes  as  they  floated  o'er  the 
waters  in  the  quiet  midnight  air.  All  highly  enjoyed  the  singing  of  the 
mermaids,  especially  the  maidens,  seemingly  going  into  ecstasies  over 
same. 

"In  the  meantime  our  ship  is  sailing  on.  The  mermaids  were  evi 
dently  not  inclined  to  follow  us,  to  the  disappointment  of  all  the  voy 
agers.  The  mermaids  were  soon  lost  sight  of. 

"Meander  announced  from  the  rostrum :  'It  is  time  for  all  to  retire 
for  the  balance  of  the  night,  so  as  to  be  up  fresh  and  bright  upon  be 
holding  our  first  landing  place  in  the  morning.' 

"As  a  night  scribe,  little  in  comparison  with  the  day  scribe,  will  my 
opportunity  be  to  note  down  events  of  interest  for  the  ship's  record 
rolls.  In  stormy  nights,  with  darkness  all  around,  what  is  there  to  be 
seen? 

"We  scribes  have  taken  an  oath  not  to  draw  on  the  imagination. 

"Only  such  events  as  are  true  and  have  actually  taken  place  shall 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Ship  131 

be  noted  down  by  the  scribes  for  the  ship's  record  rolls.  It  has  been 
emphasized  to  us  scribes  that  this  particular  clause  should  be  read  over 
by  us  often,  so  as  not  to  allow  our  imaginations  to  come  into  play. 
Actual  facts,  and  only  facts  must  be  recorded. 

"It  seems  to  me,  I,  as  a  night  scribe,  ought  to  have  been  given  a 
little  leeway,  for  in  the  darkness  of  night,  things  can  not  always  be 
seen  so  distinctly  and  positively.  I  note  all  this  down,  so  that  the  record 
rolls  themselves  will  explain  why  my  contributions  to  the  events  of  the 
voyage  cannot  be  as  entertaining  or  voluminous  as  those  of  the  day 
scribe.  But,  whether  night  or  day,  bravely  do  your  duty — well — there 
all  the  honor  lies! 

"I  now  find  that  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  add  the  ability  of  writing 
in  the  dark  to  my  accomplishments.  We  scribes  sacrifice  to  fair  Clio, 
the  muse  of  history,  and  pray  to  her  to  aid  us  in  recording  facts,  only 
actual  facts. 

"Captain  Arteus  is  on  deck  again.  His  first  glance  is  at  the  sails 
above.  He  is  coming  from  the  helmsman  to  the  prow  of  the  ship.  I 
shall  interview  him. 

"  'Captain  Arteus,  I  believe  there  will  be  very  little  to  do  for  the 
night  scribe,  hardly  enough  to  keep  one  from  going  to  sleep.  What  can 
there  be  to  note  down  with  the  stars  above,  sea  all  around,  and  the 
voyagers  all  asleep?' 

"  'I  do  not  know  the  duties  of  the  scribe,'  replied  Captain  Arteus, 
'but  might  it  not  be  well,  as  when  the  conversation  lags,  to  fall  back  on 
the  weather?  Record  the  situation  of  the  stars  rising  and  phases  of  the 
moon ;  the  strength  and  direction  of  the  winds  and  ship,  clear  or  cloudy 
sky,  rain,  etc.?' 

"  'Thank  you,  Captain,'  I  replied,  'there  is  nothing  like  having  the 
ever-changing  sea,  sky,  calm,  storm,  sunshine,  rain  and  moon  to  dwell 
upon.  So  I  can  add :  The  Aeolus  is  sailing  with  a  soft  northeast  wind, 
in  a  southwesterly  direction.  Not  a  cloud  covers  a  single  twinkling 
star;  the  light  of  the  moon  is  gilding  the  leaping  wavelets  far  and  near, 
its  glittering,  golden,  tremulous  path,  laid  on  the  waters  by  the  moon, 
always  leads  right  to  the  ship.  It  is  a  beautiful  night  at  sea.  As  to  the 
names  and  positions  of  those  countless  stars  roaming  over  the  blue 
vault  above,  that  baffles  me.' 

"  'The  names,  and  changing  positions  of  the  stars,'  replied  Captain 
Arteus,  'are  known  and  noticed  by  three  classes  of  men:  astrologers, 
for  the  purpose  of  divination  and  prophecy.  Secondly,  shepherds,  from 
observations  while  resting  in  clear  nights  on  their  backs  in  the  grass, 
they  do  not  fail  to  wonder  and  behold  and  become  acquainted  with  the 
positions  of  the  stars  at  the  various  seasons  of  the  year.  Thirdly :  the 
seamen  study  the  stars  for  the  purpose  of  guiding  ships  at  night.' 

"'The  Pleiades,'  said  Captain  Arteus,  'upon  their  rising  in  the  east, 


132  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

are  taken  as  a  sign  by  us  sailors  to  venture  out  upon  the  sea.'  'Shep 
herds,'  continued  the  Captain,  'resting  on  their  backs  on  the  uninter 
rupted  clear  Egyptian  nights,  fancied  many  groups  of  stars  as  ani 
mals,  and  in  their  observations,  formed  a  wide  path  on  the  blue  vault 
above,  over  which  the  animal  star  groups  wandered  in  recurring  order, 
which  in  consequence  has  been  named  by  our  astrologers,  the  Zodiac 
(Animal  path).  The  stationary  star  in  the  Northern  heavens  is  known 
to  seamen  as  the  Phoenician  star,  because  Phoenicians  look  to  it  for 
guidance  on  long  sea  voyages.  Our  astrologers  call  its  constellation  cyno 
sure  and  to  seamen  on  long  voyages,  it  is  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes.' 

"'The  Phoenician  Star  (North  Star)'  said  Captain  Arteus,  'to  our 
eyesight,  is  the  only  star  that  is  fastened  to  the  vault  above  and  does 
not,  like  the  other  stars,  wander  like  flies  on  a  ceiling.  It  happens  at 
times  that  a  star  falls  down.  Being  ashamed  of  not  being  able  to  hold 
itself  to  the  vault  above,  it  extinguishes  its  light  upon  its  fall,  so  it 
can  not  be  found  by  mortals.  Yes,'  said  Captain  Arteus,  'the  Phoenician 
star  (North  Star)  is  looked  upon  by  all  seamen  as  their  most  steadfast 
friend.' 

"I  asked  Captain  Arteus,  in  thick,  foggy  weather,  when  no  sun,  star 
or  shore  is  in  sight,  by  what  means  is  the  direction  ascertained  in  which 
the  ship  is  sailing?  Captain  Arteus  replied:  'When  sailing  in  a  dense 
fog,  night  or  day,  the  seamen  can  not  know  in  what  direction  the  ship 
is  sailing.  If  we  should  now  be  surrounded  by  a  dense,  impenetrable 
fog,  we  could  for  a  short  time  know  the  direction  by  the  wave  motions, 
which,  as  we  know,  has  been  formed  and  directed  by  the  northeast 
wind.  But  wave-motion  can  be  relied  upon  for  a  very  short  time  only, 
as  at  the  change  of  wind,  the  direction  of  which  can  not  be  determined, 
it  also  changes  the  motion  of  the  waves.  The  Phoenician  Ithobal,  said 
to  me  that  it  is  a  Phoenician  seaman's  saying:  "There  lurks  far  more 
danger  in  the  soft  fog,  than  in  the  hard  wave  concealed  rock."  Also  in 
dark  nights,  when  the  stars  are  completely  covered  with  clouds,  the  sea 
men  out  of  sight  of  land  can  not  know  in  which  direction  the  ship  is  sail 
ing,  nor  the  direction  of  the  wind.  The  seamen,  therefore,  must  make 
strenuous  efforts  against  being  blown  too  far  out  of  the  sight  of  the 
shore.  The  Phoenician  seamen,  merchant-ships  of  Tyre,  have  sketches 
of  shores  showing  inlets,  lowlands,  hills  and  mountains  of  seashores. 
These  seashore  pictures  have  been  painted  by  artists,  accompanying  the 
merchant  ships  of  Tyre.' 

"Such  pictures  of  the  shores  are  in  the  possession  of  the  captains  of 
ships.  Death  is  the  penalty  of  divulging  them  to  seamen  of  strange 
lands.  Our  young  men  voyagers,  Orthocles  and  Graphitus,  will  paint 
sketches  of  all  the  shores  along  which  we  will  sail.  These  sketches  will 
be  preserved  for  the  use  of  Athenian  seamen. 

"The  Aeolus  is  sailing  very  close  to  and  around  the  mountain  cape 


Records  of  the  Scribes  on  the  Ship  133 

Malea.  The  changing  of  the  ship's  direction  and  the  hauling  closer  of 
the  sails  seems  to  increase  the  speed  of  the  ship.  The  light  of  the  stars 
is  fast  diminishing  and  Rosy  Aurora  is  majestically  looming  up  at  the 
world's  east  end.  Golden  Phosbus  is  now  fully  above  the  waters.  It  is 
a  glorious  day.  Scriborites,  the  day  scribe,  is  here  to  relieve  me." 

Scriborites:  "Anaxogerous,  the  night  scribe,  has,  like  the  stars  of 
the  night,  silently  stolen  away.  And  it  is  now  for  me  to  record  events 
while  the  orb  of  day  holds  sway.  The  breeze  is  still  northeast.  The 
ship  is  sailing  west.  All  sails  set.  'We  are  now,'  says  Captain  Arteus, 
'sailing  between  the  Island  Cythera  and  Onugnathus.' 

"How  proudly  and  majestically  the  Aeolus  is  sailing  o'er  the  swish 
ing  sea !  Hilicarus,  the  second  officer,  is  now  in  command.  The  Aeolus 
is  now  sailing  in  the  Bay  of  Laconicus.  Hilicarus  informs  me  that  we 
may  arrive  at  our  first  landing  place,  Gythium,  before  the  sun  has 
reached  the  Zenith.  Hilicarus  points  out  to  me,  on  the  left  towards  the 
northwest,  the  mountains  of  Taygetus.  The  breeze  is  gaining  in  force. 
Captain  Arteus  is  on  deck  again.  All  sailors  have  been  ordered  on  deck. 
The  voyagers  are  delighted  with  the  mountain  shore  scenery. 

"The  look-out  is  calling  down :  'Gythium,  Gythium,'  which  is  situated 
In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Bay  of  Laconicus.  'Gythium,  Gythium, 
is  the  passing  word  among  the  voyagers.' 

"The  voyagers  are  all  clad  in  their  most  beautiful  social  costumes. 
The  maidens  are  dressed  in  flowing  silk  costumes,  with  rich  bracelets 
and  jewels  sparkling  in  their  hair,  presenting  a  lovely  scene. 

"The  young  men  are  clad  in  dark  blue  raiment,  with  burnished 
helmets,  carrying  short  polished  swords  at  their  sides.  They  present 
a  fine  appearance.  Marstenes  commands:  'Fellow  warriors!  Form 
lines!'  Upon  which  the  young  men  and  maidens  formed  in  four  lines 
on  each  side  of  the  ship.  The  committee  of  rules  and  order :  Diagorax, 
Sophon,  Pindarus  and  Meander  have  ascended  the  rostrum. 

"Diagorax  said:  'Fellow  voyagers,  knowing  full  well  that  all  of  us, 
belonging  to  the  same  exclusive  set  as  we  do,  holding  the  same  superior 
Athenian  excellencies,  all  are  equal  in  ability,  courage  and  wisdom ;  the 
only  difference  being  that  you  have  placed  upon  us  the  duty  of  giving 
special  attention  to  special  matters,  during  our  voyage.  Marstenes  has 
addressed  you  as  "fellow  warriors,"  for  it  is  he  whom  we  all  have  ap 
pointed  to  form  us  into  military  line  and  to  command  us  as  warriors 
in  conflicts  with  pirates  and,  if  necessary,  also  at  landings.  We  are  ap 
pareled  in  our  most  refined  raiment — raiment  that  denotes  peace  and 
friendship.  The  peoples  of  Laconia  (Lacedaemon  by  Homer  called) 
are  at  present  our  allies  and  friends.  The  Laconians  of  the  city  of 
Gythium  are  the  only  people  who  were  informed  many  moons  ago  of 
the  building  of  our  large  ship  and  that  on  its  voyage,  it  was  intended 


134  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

that  Gythium  should  be  selected  as  its  first  landing  place.  Therefore, 
the  arrival  of  our  monster  ship  will  not  wholly  be  a  surprise.  With  the 
people  of  Gythium  and  also  with  the  people  of  Pylus,  our  next  landing 
place,  we  can  converse  passibly.  But  from  thence  onward,  it  will  be  our 
study  to  understand  and  make  our  thoughts  known  to  peoples  whose 
tongues  we  are  strangers  to.  We  can  now  see  fishermen  rowing  their 
boats  towards  us.  The  people  of  Gythium  are  gathering  in  large  groups 
along  the  shore.  The  advice  given  by  one  of  our  most  wealthy  and  suc 
cessful  Athenian  peddlers  and  tradesmen,  is:  "It  is  generally  profitable 
to  humor  and  entertain,  if  possible,  before  entering  upon  the  project  of 
barter  and  trade."  Therefore,  before  turning  our  attention  to  commerce, 
the  great  object  of  our  voyage,  we  will  follow  the  advice  given  by  our 
experienced  tradesman. 

"  'After  the  committee  of  landing  has  seen  the  ruler  of  Gythium  and 
obtained  his  consent  to  our  presence  in  his  waters  and  city,  and  after 
we  have  all  gathered  at  a  place  selected  or  set  apart  for  us  in  the 
town  by  the  ruler,  Sophon  will,  in  the  presence  of  the  ruler  and  his 
people,  in  the  name  of  the  voyagers  of  the  Aeolus,  hold  an  address. 
Your  committee  of  landing  will,  upon  its  first  visit  to  the  ruler,  present 
to  him  and  his  immediate  retinue,  several  neat  cases  of  our  famous 
Hymettus  honey.  Other  presents  may  be  offered  by  our  committee  of 
commerce  in  such  measure  as  circumstances  indicate  would  be  profitable. 
The  Laconians  are  a  plain,  short-spoken  people  and  brave.  It  would 
be  the  part  of  wisdom  if  rudeness  or  even  enmity  should  be  displayed 
by  a  few  Laconians,  to  allow  it  to  pass  by  unnoticed,  as  acts  of  un 
worthy  persons  should  not  be  worthy  of  our  notice.' 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  SHIP  LANDS  AT  GYTHIUM 

"At  all  landing  places  a  contingent  of  us  men  voyagers  will  remain 
on  the  ship,  fully  armed,  but  out  of  view;  so  if  the  unexpected  should 
happen,  action  can  be  taken  without  delay.  I  also  recall  the  rule: 
'Voyagers  should  not  proceed  inland  so  far  as  to  lose  sight  of  the  ship's 
masts  and  flags.'  Events  may  make  it  necessary  for  the  ship  to  depart 
in  great  haste  at  any  time. 

"The  committee  of  rules  and  order  are  again  mingling  among  the 
voyagers.  Marstenes  calls  out:  'Break  ranks.'  The  voyagers  all 
seem  eager  to  inspect  the  sights  and  condition  of  things  on  shore. 
The  wind  being  very  light  and  coming  from  the  northeast,  leaves 
the  waters  of  the  bay  quite  smooth.  Large  crowds  of  Gythians 
are  gathered  on  the  shore,  shouting  and  gesticulating  in  an  excited  man 
ner.  Marstenes  has  ordered  a  certain  number  of  voyagers  to  don  their 
armor  and  form  into  a  warrior's  squad  in  the  ship's  hull  and  remain  out 
of  sight.  The  ship's  sails  are  lowered.  Four  large  stone  anchors  are 
dropped  to  the  bottom  of  the  bay  and  our  ship  lies  close  to  the  shore. 
Thus  we  have  landed  at  Gythium. 

"The  ship's  long,  narrow  raft  has  made  a  pathway  from  the  ship  to 
the  landing.  The  floating  of  the  wharf  is  accomplished  by  the  friendly 
aid  of  Gythians  in  small  row-boats.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  landing  com 
mittee  of  four  to  go  ashore,  visit  the  city's  ruler,  and  to  return  and  re 
port  on  the  condition  of  things.  The  landing  committee,  Greetus,  Strabo, 
Fatallus,  Terrafirma  and  Theognis,  the  last  mentioned  being  our  ship's 
most  accomplished  linguist  and  gesture  interpreter,  have  climbed  down 
the  ladder  to  the  wharf.  With  a  scroll  in  hand,  Strabo  and  the  rest  of 
the  Committee  of  Landing  are  passing  through  the  dense  crowd  beyond 
the  wharf.  The  scroll,  which  was  embellished  by  Scriborites  with  great 
care,  reads  as  follows: 

"  'King  Gythio,  Gracious  ruler  of  Gythium !  ordained  by  the  Gods : 
The  ruler  of  Athens,  and  its  friendly  people  send  greeting.  And  beg  of 
you  the  privilege  of  anchoring  our  great  Anthenian  ship,  Aeolus,  in  your 
seas  and  ask  that  its  friendly  Athenian  voyagers  be  allowed  to  so 
journ  in  your  famed  city  for  the  period  of  several  risings  of  Helios. 
With  the  honor  due  to  your  exalted  station,  we  remain  to  this  day,  as 
were  our  brave  hero-warrior  forefathers  in  the  Siege  of  Troy,  your 
friends,  The  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  of  the  Ship  Aeolus.' 

135 


136  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"It  can  be  seen  from  our  ship  that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  that  the 
Committee  of  Landings  is  passing  through  the  crowd  to  where  an  isolat 
ed  group  of  apparently  prominent  personages  are  standing.  Our  Com 
mittee  is  accompanying  the  most  prominent  of  the  group  to  the  ruler's 
palace.  The  regular  time  for  meals  is  at  hand  and  there  will  be  little 
to  note  until  the  landing  committee's  return.  Hypnothoon,  the  Nestor  of 
our  voyage,  says :  'Our  committee  of  landing  is  really  entitled  to  a  more 
important  sounding  name.  It,'  he  says,  'requires  deep  insight  and  quick 
perception  to  note  the  various  ways  and  situations  of  the  rulers,  and  a 
fine,  inborn  and  acquired  tact.  Besides,  their  duties  place  them  in  the 
most  perilous  positions.' 

"No  flag  is  waving  from  our  ship's  mast.  The  displaying  of  a  flag, 
'tis  said,  indicates  that  a  ship  has  been  allowed  the  right  of  port ;  or  has 
acquired  the  right  by  force. 

"The  forest-clad  mountains  of  Taygetus  present  an  imposing  scene. 
Four  large  catapults  are  standing  on  the  shore  wharf  and  several  war 
riors  can  be  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  same.  Their  catapults  do  not  seem 
to  be  as  powerful  as  those  we  have  on  our  ship.  Small  rowing  boats  are 
clustered  around  the  islands  near  by,  on  which  are  many  fishermen's 
huts.  The  people  on  shore  are  gaining  in  numbers.  Slingers  are  throwing 
stones  far  into  the  sea.  A  large  share  of  the  people  are  bowmen  and 
spearsmen,  the  latter  carrying  shields  of  hides,  and  a  few  of  burnished 
bronze.  A  number  of  the  strongest  warriors  have  graceful  plumes 
flaunting  from  their  helmets.  These  are  apparently  commanders.  There 
do  not  seem  to  be  any  hostile  movements  or  demonstrations.  The 
grandeur  of  our  ship  seems  to  claim  their  whole  attention. 

"A  number  of  hunters,  who  have  returned  from  a  chase  In  the  moun 
tain  forests,  are  on  the  wharf,  pointing  to  their  quarry  of  wild  boars 
and  stags.  Whether  they  wish  to  barter  the  game  or  to  present  these 
handsome  wild  stags  and  boars  to  us,  we  fail  to  understand. 

"Several  small  boats  with  lateen  sails  are  coming  close  to  our  ship. 

"A  flag  of  green  and  red  has  been  hoisted  on  the  flagstaff  of  the 
palace.  The  palace  is  a  massive,  but  not  imposing  or  sightly  structure. 
The  builders  of  it  expended  no  effort  when  erecting  it  toward  the  beau 
tiful. 

"A  large  number  of  warriors,  including  bowmen,  spearsmen,  and  a 
number  of  horsemen,  are  now  forming  into  regular  lines  near  the  pal 
ace.  Six  war  chariots  are  following  the  horsemen.  All  the  members  of 
our  landing  committee — are  they  the  king's  guests,  or  are  they  the 
king's  prisoners?  That  is  the  question  holding  us  in  anxious  suspense. 

"The  raiment  of  the  Laconians  appears  much  simpler  and  coarser 
than  ours. 

"A  long  line  of  horsemen,  chariots,  bowmen  and  spearsmen  are 
marching  down  to  our  wharf  with  drum  and  music.  Marstenes  on  ship, 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  137 

has  ordered:     'All  warriors  arm  for  conflict.'     The  maidens  are  all 
armed  with  bows. 

"Heavy  stone  dolphins  are  gotten  ready  to  haul  up  to  the  several 
yard  arms.  The  long  procession  has  halted  not  far  from  the  wharf. 
They  are  striking  their  shields  in  unison  with  their  hands.  The  bow 
men  are  holding  unstrung  bows  aloft.  They  have  come  without  spears 
or  arrows.  Marstenes  gives  orders  to  lay  aside,  out  of  sight,  all  the 
implements  of  war.  Marstenes  says:  'Warriors,  the  demonstration  of 
the  Laconians,  without  arrows  or  spears,  indicate  and  can  be  accepted 
as  an  assurance  of  friendship  and  peace." 

Strabo,  Greetus,  Terrafirma,  Fatallus  and  Theognis  are  among  the 
horsemen.  The  king  and  his  retinue  are  in  the  chariots.  Our  landing 
committee  has  dismounted  and  is  now  coming  toward  our  ship.  Strabo  is 
carrying  a  scroll.  Can  it  be  that  our  scroll — greeting  of  friendship — 
was  rejected?  Captain  Arteus  orders  the  lowering  of  the  rope  ladders 
on  the  ship's  side,  leading  to  the  shore,  connecting  the  wharf.  The 
Laconians  are  shouting  in  unison :  "Athenians !  Athenians !  Athenians ! 
We  greet  you,  and  welcome  you  to  our  wide,  hollow  shores." 

On  our  ship,  silence  still  reigns.  All  the  people  of  Gythium  are  at 
the  wharf  beholding  our  big  ship  in  wonderment.  Our  landing  commit 
tee  is  back  on  the  ship  again.  Upon  a  conference  with  the  Committee 
of  Commerce,  the  portable  rostrum  is  moved  to  the  center  of  the  deck. 
Strabo,  Fatallus,  Terafirma,  take  position  on  the  same.  Strabo  un 
folds  a  scroll,  which  was  received  from  the  king  of  Gythium,  by  the 
landing  committee,  and  reads : 

"Illustrious  Athenians!  Descendants  of  the  noble  friends  of  our 
forefathers,  who  bravely  fought  side  by  side  on  the  Trojan  Plain,  to  re 
gain  fair  Helen  for  Menelaus,  King  of  our  beloved  Sparta,  we  welcome 
you  to  our  hollow  shores,  and  feel  honored  by  the  presence  of  your 
noble  selves  and  of  your  wonderful  ship  in  our  waters.  In  peace  and 
friendship,  "Gythio, 

"King  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta." 

Hereupon,  Marstenes  led  in  giving  seven  rousing  cheers  for  King 
Gythio,  the  people  of  Gythium,  and  Sparta ;  at  the  same  time  the  ship's 
flags  were  hoisted  on  each  of  its  masts. 

The  people  on  the  shore  are  also  answering  our  cheers  with  cheer 
upon  cheer.  Strabo,  of  the  Landing  Committee,  continued  speaking 
from  the  rostrum:  "The  crowd  looked  daggers  at  us,  as  we  passed 
through  on  our  way  toward  the  distinguished  persons  standing  in  front 
of  the  palace.  It  was  the  scroll  I  held  forward,  in  the  direction  of  the 
prominent  group,  that  opened  our  way  through  the  crowd.  The  scroll 
was  rightly  looked  upon  as  a  message  to  the  king.  The  scroll  had  more 
power  than  spear  or  dart.  Several  of  the  distinguished  group  were 


138  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

dressed  in  bright  armor,  with  plumes  waving  from  the  crest  of  their 
helmets,  similar  to  those  belonging  to  our  helmets  for  the  battle  array. 
We  addressed  several  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  group,  as  fol 
lows: 

"'Brave  Gythians!  We  are  Athenians  and  come  on  a  mission  of 
peace  and  friendship.  This  scroll  is  a  message  to  your  noble  king  to 
whom  we  would  be  pleased  to  hand  it  in  person.' " 

Several  of  the  nobles  with  waving  plumes  stepped  forward,  drawing 
short  swords  from  their  sheaths  and  then  sheathed  them  again.  We 
plainly  understood  it  meant  peace.  Several  of  the  nobles  said :  "Athen 
ians,  welcome,  welcome.  Our  noble  King  Gythio,  and  ourselves  have 
noticed  your  ship  while  it  was  still  far  out  at  sea.  Upon  coming  closer, 
our  noble  king  said  that  he  was  certain  that  your  ship  was  the  wonder 
ful  Athenian  ship  which  he  was  informed  many  moons  ago  would, 
upon  its  first  voyage,  land  at  our  city,  Gythium,  if  it  was  agree 
able  to  him.  He  simply  answered :  'Laconian  Spartans,  welcome  Athen 
ians/  " 

"King  Gythio,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  has  informed  us," 
spoke  up  one  of  the  Laconians,  "to  make  it  known  to  you  that  he  is  in 
the  palace,  awaiting  your  honored  presence." 

We  were  escorted  to  the  massive  palace  yonder,  and  presented  to 
King  Gythio,  who  sat  on  his  throne  in  the  large  palace  hall,  well  lighted 
and  arranged,  containing  many  massive  oak  tables  and  benches  with 
strong,  elegantly  carved  legs.  King  Gythio  sat  upon  his  throne,  made 
of  massive  oak,  handsomely  carved.  A  large  number  of  nobles  had 
gathered  in  the  palace,  sitting  at  tables  near  the  throne.  As  we  passed 
through  the  center  aisle,  following  one  of  the  nobles  towards  the  throne, 
all  of  the  nobles  arose  from  their  seats.  Upon  a  sign  by  one  of  their 
number,  the  nobles  became  seated  again.  We  made  several  deep  bows, 
with  our  helmets  removed. 

Prince  Gyphodus,  who  was  one  of  the  nobles  who  had  escorted  us 
to  the  palace  and  before  the  king,  said: 

"Most  High  King  Gythio  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Spar 
ta!  Your  palace  is  graced  by  the  presence  of  a  committee  of  noble 
Athenians — Greetus,  Strabo,  Fatallus,  Terrafirma  and  Theognis,  who 
have  been  delegated  by  the  Athenians  of  the  grand  ship  now  lying  in 
your  sea  to  present  the  scroll  they  bear  to  you  in  person." 

King  Gythio  bowed,  and  upon  receiving  and  untying  the  scroll,  after 
reading  the  same,  arose  and  said : 

"Welcome,  welcome,  brave  Athenian  friends!"  after  which  the  king 
said  to  the  nobles:  "Nobles,  this  scroll  contains  a  friendly  message 
from  the  dauntless  Athenian  voyagers  on  the  ship  which  is  so  majes 
tically  gracing  our  native  bay  by  its  presence.  The  message  reads: 
'King  Gythio,  gracious  ruler  of  Gythium,  ordained  by  the  gods!  The 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  139 

King  of  Athens  and  his  people  send  greeting,  and  beg  of  you  the  privi 
lege  of  anchoring  our  grand  Athenian  ship  Aeolus  in  your  spacious  bay, 
and  the  privilege  of  its  friendly  voyagers  to  sojourn  in  your  city  for  the 
period  of  several  risings  of  Helios.  With  the  honor  due  to  your  exalted 
station,  we  remain  to  this  day,  as  were  our  brave  hero-warrior  fore 
fathers  in  the  Siege  of  Troy,  your  friends,  THE  FOUR  HUNDRED  OF 
ATHENS,  voyagers  of  the  ship  Aeolus:  " 

Upon  the  king  resuming  his  seat  the  nobles  arose  from  the  benches 
with  swords  and  arms  clashing  against  the  oak  tables,  and  joined  in  a 
hearty  seven-times  repeated  cheer  of  "Welcome  Athenians!" 

King  Gythio  arose  again  and  said :  "Fellow  nobles,  Prince  Gyphodos 
will  introduce  each  of  you  to  our  Athenian  visitors." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  introductions  King  Gythio  stepped  from  the 
throne  and  seated  himself  at  one  of  the  massive,  elegantly  carved  oaken 
tables  close  by,  to  which  he  invited  us  to  be  seated  in  company  with 
Prince  Gyphodus  and  several  of  the  other  nobles.  One  seat  at  this 
table  was  left  vacant. 

After  we  all  were  seated, Terrafirma arose  and  said:  "Brave  King 

Gythio!  We  ,"  at  which  point,  Quarito,  the  king's  scribe, 

arose  and  said:  "Interruption  is  necessary.  Be  it  known  and  make  It 
known  to  all  mankind  that  whenever  addressing  Gythio  as  king,  it 
must,  without  fail,  be  added:  'of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of 
Sparta.' "  "I  must  explain,"  continued  the  king's  scribe.  "The  King 
of  Sparta  is  ordained  by  the  gods.  Our  noble  King  Gythio  has  been 
appointed  by  the  King  of  Sparta  as  King  of  Gythium,  Sparta's  seaport." 

''Terrafirma,"  said  Quarito,  "you  have  not  committed  an  affront,  as 
you  were  uninformed." 

King  Gythio  arose  and  said:  "My  scribe,  Quarito,  has  performed 
his  duty,  in  harmony  with  a  decree  of  our  most  high  King  of  Sparta, 
ordained  by  the  gods." 

Terrafirma  proceeded :  "King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the 
King  of  Sparta,  the  men  and  maiden  voyagers  of  our  grand  ship  Aeolus, 
upon  the  time  of  leaving  our  beautiful  Athens,  transferred  their 
thoughts  of  your  highness  in  tangible  shape  in  the  form  of  gifts.  To 
me  was  conferred  the  honor  of  presenting  to  you  one  of  the  gifts,  not 
the  most  valuable  one,  for  it  is  said :  '  'Tis  not  the  value  of  a  gift  that 
shows  the  heart's  true  friendship ;'  but  the  gift  which  the  voyagers  pre 
sent  is  the  sweetest  and  purest  product  our  Athenian  land  is  able  to 
offer.  Please,  your  highness,  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the 
King  of  Sparta,  accept  this  small  skin  full  of  Hymettus  honey  from 
our  voyagers,  as  an  introductory  mark  of  friendship.  May  our  sojourn 
in  your  famed  city  be  as  agreeable  to  you  as  the  taste  of  our  renowned 
Hymettus  honey." 


140  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"This  skin  of  honey,"  said  the  king,  "inform  the  voyagers,  is  accepted 
as  a  gift  from  a  friend  to  a  friend." 

At  this  juncture,  a  queerly  clad  and  odd  looking  man  rushed  into  the 
hall,  shouting  in  loud  tones :  "We've  got  'em !  We've  got  'em !  We've 
got  'em!  Besides  stags  and  wild  boars!" 

"Wolves  have  devoured  sheep ;  these  and  other  game  have  been 
hunted  in  the  forests  of  Mt.  Taygetus."  "But  oh !"  the  jolly  man  con 
tinued,  "have  you  seen  that  large  ship  in  the  bay  and  its  load  of  beau 
tiful  women?"  "Oh,"  he  cried  out,  "I  will  sail  with  that  ship,  when  it 
sails  away.  Well,  here's  my  seat,"  he  cried,  as  he  fell  unceremoniously 
into  the  chair  along  our  side,  left  vacant. 

"This,"  said  Prince  Gyphodus,  "is  the  King's  jester.  He  has  just  re 
turned  from  a  wolf  hunt  in  the  Taygetus  mountains.  Whether  he  and 
the  other  hunters  have  really  killed  any  wolves,  we  cannot  tell  as  yet, 
for  he,  the  king's  jester,  is  allowed  to  do  and  say  almost  anything."  The 
king  spoke  up,  to  the  jester,  saying :  "Nixus !  Our  noble  Athenian 
friends  here,  and  those  on  the  ship,  have  presented  to  me,  this  skin  full 
of  pure  Hymettus  honey." 

"We  never,"  said  Strabo,  "saw  any  human  being  who  could  change 
his  attitudes  and  the  expressions  of  his  face  from  earnestness  to  joyful- 
ness,  or  from  sadness  to  gladness,  as  can  Nixus." 

"Athenians!  Friends!"  said  the  jester,  in  a  very  slow,  observant 
manner,  reclining  carelessly  in  his  seat.  "Athenians,  handsome  men, 
and  you  can't  deny  it.  Strangers,  are  all  the  other  men  on  your  mon 
strous  ship  down  in  the  bay,  as  handsome  and  good  looking  as  you 
are?" 

Fatallus  answered:  "Nixus,  the  only  answer  we  can  give,  it  would 
not  be  natural  for  the  maidens  on  our  ship  to  allow  the  handsomest  men 
to  go  ashore  first  among  strangers." 

"Oh  look  here,"  said  the  jester,  "why  don't  you  say  that  they  have 
sent  the  homeliest  men  on  shore  first? 

"Where  there  are  a  handsome  four, 
There  may  be  many  more." 

"Gythio,  never  a  handsomer  or  a  finer  looking  race  of  men  graced 
your  palace  hall.  And  the  maidens  on  the  ship — only  take  one  glance 
from  shore  and  it  needs  no  more.  Sunshine  and  Honey !  Why,  they'll 
make  the  homeliest  man  feel  funny.  He  that  has  not  comeliness,  values 
beauty  none  the  less.  Because  I'm  homely,  very  so,  think  not  I  not 
beauty  know.  Gythio!  Upon  returning  from  the  chase,  we  beheld  the 
large  ship  in  the  bay  below  and  went  to  the  wharf,  carrying  our  game 
of  wild  boars  and  stags  along.  We  placed  one  of  the  largest  of  the 
boars  we  killed  on  the  wharf,  close  to  the  ship  so  that  the  voyagers 
could  see  it  plainly.  It  is  a  monster  boar.  We  offered  again  and  again 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  141 

to  exchange,  to  give  them  that  boar  for  one  of  their  maidens,  but  they 
acted  as  if  they  could  not  understand  what  we  wanted.  We  even  told 
them  we  did  not  ask  the  privilege  of  selecting  the  maiden  which  they 
should  give  us.  You  know,"  continued  Nixus,  "they  all,  each 
and  every  one,  are  beauties,  more  fair  than  Spartan  eyes  have  ever 
beheld,  so  we  did  not  ask  the  privilege  of  selecting  one  of  the  maidens 
in  exchange  for  that  grand  boar.  There  is  one  thing  certain,  they  will 
never  make  good  barterers,  merchants  or  traders,  for,  maidens  they 
have  many,  but  boars,  not  one.  And  if  they  had  been  true  barterera 
they  would  not  let  such  an  opportunity  pass  of  making  a  profitable 
exchange.  But,  Gythio,  that  grand  ship  is  named  Aeolus;  that's  all 
wind!  It  should  have  been  named  'Beauty  Ship,'  for  it  has  a  cargo 
of  beauties." 

Looking  down  thoughtfully,  holding  a  finger  to  his  nose,  as  If  meas 
uring  its  length,  he  proceeded  slowly  :  "Now,  now,  I've  got  it !  I've  got 
it!  If  the  Athenians  here,  will,  as  if  under  oath,  promise  not  to  listen, 
I  will  proclaim  in  loud  tones,  to  Gythio  and  all  the  nobles  here,  what 
I've  got."  We  promised  not  to  listen,  and  this  is  what  Nixus  said: 
"Fools,  'tis  said,  never  come  in  touch  with  the  gods.  But  at  this  mo 
ment,  in  this  place,  on  this  spot,"  pointing  to  his  forehead,  "I  feel  the 
touch  of  some  god." 

In  a  very  earnest-looking  mood  and  an  attempt  at  thought,  Nixus 
proceeded :  "Look  you !  From  no  one  city  or  country  could  so  many 
beauties  be  gathered,  as  on  that  grand,  windy-named  ship.  No  one  land 
has  so  large  a  number  of  beauties ;  and  to  tell  the  truth,  not  one  of  our 
beauties  is  equal  to  any  of  those  on  the  ship.  Now,  listen !  All  listen ! 
Excepting  you  Athenians  be  deaf.  I've  got  it,  I've  got  it!  That  large 
ship  was  built  for  a  purpose!  It  was  built  for  a  purpose." 

Placing  his  finger  on  his  nose  again,  assuming  a  deep,  thoughtful 
mood,  Nixus  continued  r  "Athenians,  I  have  often  heard  and  believe  that 
they  are  a  far  finer  people  than  all  the  other  people  of  the  world.  They 
give  great  attention  to  beauty.  To  perpetuate  and  to  still  further  en 
hance  the  noble  good  looks  of  their  race,  that  ship  was  built.  With  it, 
and  the  handsome  men,  they  land  at  many  distant  shores.  The  hand 
some  men  attract  the  handsome  maidens  and  they  select  the  most  beau 
tiful  of  many  lands ;  and  with  their  gift  of  manly  beauty,  glances,  sweet 
words  and  presents,  they  allure  them  on  their  ships.  Yes,  charm  them, 
like  snakes  do  birds.  Yes,  kidnap  them — leaving  those  on  land  looking 
after  unconsoled. 

'"Or  it  may  perhaps  be  different.  Now  listen  again.  One  can  see,  at 
the  first  look  from  a  near  distance  that  the  voyagers  are  also  a  superior 
race  of  people.  They  look  like  the  children  of  kings — the  eons  and 
daughters  of  kings.  Now  it  may  be  also  this  way :  Athens  cannot  en 
tertain,  she  has  not  room  or  place  for  so  many  kings  and  queens.  Now 


142  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

listen!  As  each  and  all  of  the  ship's  noble  sons  and  daughters  are  fit 
to  rule,  to  grace  the  throne  of  a  kingdom  or  queendom,  they  are  sailing 
out  to  discover,  yes,  conquer  lands  whose  people  are  untutored,  and  thus 
they  establish  new  kingdoms  and  thus  become  and  fill  the  positions  of 
kings  and  queens.  Listen!  In  such  a  voyage  of  discovery  and  con 
quest,  their  eagerness  and  deep  longing  for  holding  noble  titled  positions 
among  men,  will  easily  be  attained.  Spartans !  Let  the  wish  and  plans 
of  the  voyagers  be  what  it  may,  but  I  say  that  the  very  bearings  and 
noble  looks  of  each  man  or  maid,  plainly  says :  'We're  out  to  conquer  the 
world.'  Oh  war!  war!  war!  Athenians,  close  yet  your  ears,  for  I 
have  only  a  few  more  words  to  shout.  O  Gythio  and  all  you  nobles! 
Each  one  of  those  beauties  is  equal  in  charms  to  the  beautiful  Helen 
who  lived  in  the  time  of  your  grandfathers.  The  Helen  who  caused  a 
nine  years'  war  of  nations.  If  one  Helen  provokes  a  war,  what  can 
hundreds  of  Helens  provoke !" 

In  a  very  excited  state  and  loud  voice,  he  continued :  "I  predict  war, 
war,  war !  In  which  men  kill  each  other.  O  Gythio,  by  times,  command 
your  commander  to  command  his  warriors.  War!  war!  war!  In  the 
vicinity  of  such  a  gathering  of  beauties,  O  Gythio,  something  must  hap 
pen. 

"War!  O,  how  it  makes  me  shiver  to  think  of  it!  In  war,  O  they 
say  catapults,  darts,  spears  and  even  stones  thirst  for  blood.  Men  are 
killed — heads  cut  off  and  used  in  play  for  a  discus.  War  is  no  place  for 
a  jester.  I  shall  prolong  my  chase  for  wolves  in  the  forest  of  Mt. 
Taygetus.  To  have  a  spear  thrust  through  one's  body,  or  a  dart  pierce 
one's  brain — O,  I  see  the  spurting  blood  and  feel  the  dying  pain.  What 
is  the  use  of  living,  if  you  are  going  to  be  killed?" 

In  a  great  fit  of  excitement  and  fear,  he  cried  out :  "Oh  war !  war ! 
war!"  and  throwing  up  his  arms,  he  collapsed  under  the  table. 

"Be  it  known,"  said  Herotius,  one  of  the  Spartan  nobles,  "that  Nixus 
is  the  greatest  coward  the  moon  ever  shone  upon." 

Upon  this  remark,  he  jumped  up  and  said:  "But  I  am  still  among 
the  living." 

"Happy  that  we  can  truthfully  say,"  spoke  up  Prince  Gyphodus,  "that 
Nixus  is  no  Spartan;  he  does  not  belong  to  our  Spartan  race.  Nixus, 
when  a  child,  as  you  can  see  at  this  late  date,  was  not  fair  to  look 
upon.  And  so  his  native  country  tied  him  on  a  large  cedar  log  with  a 
small  cedar  tree  for  a  sail,  and  so  he  was  wafted  and  was  found  on  our 
seashore.  Wonderful  must  have  been  the  land  he  came  from." 

"Nixus,"  spoke  up  the  king,  "hereafter  do  not  allow  yourself  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  wisdom  of  any  god.  A  little  knowledge  is  a  danger 
ous  thing.  It  almost  annihilated  you." 

"Seeing  that  I  am  still  among  the  living,  in  spite  of  all  this  war 
scare,  O  Gythio,  I  have  regained  my  second  breath.  And,  O,  there  is  no 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  143 

danger  of  war,  come  to  think  of  it,  because  the  Athenians  will  not  at 
tempt  to  allure  any  of  our  maidens  to  their  ship,  because  they  are  not 
nearly  up  to  the  standard  of  beauty  sought  after  by  the  Athenians. 
Thus  the  homeliness  of  our  maidens  in  comparison  prevents  a  war.  So, 
too,  plain  looks  can  enjoy  the  sunshine  of  the  world  unmolested.  But 
Beauty — all  the  world  is  willing  to  escort  her,  even  against  her  will. 
Beauty,  O  what  a  fiery  magnet  art  thou,  leading  men  by  an  invisible 
halter,  throwing  them  into  war." 

"Nixus,  Nixus,"  spoke  the  king.  "The  skin  of  honey  has  been  pre 
sented  to  me  as  a  gift  by  the  brave,  noble  Athenian  voyagers,  including 
Strabo,  Fatallus,  Terrafirma,  Theognis  and  Greetus." 

Pointing  to  the  skin  of  honey,  Gythio  said:  "Nixus,  thou  knowest 
thy  duty." 

"Gythio,  I  know  my  duty.  I  beg  only  a  few  more  words.  Hear 
ing  Herotius  say  that  I  was  the  greatest  coward,  brought  me  to  life 
again.  He  who  is  killed  in  battle  will  never  see  the  sun  rise  again,  but 
must  go  down  to  the  shades  below.  War!  War!  War!  O,  mention  it 
not,  or  I  must  collapse  again.  Great  fool  as  I  am,  the  hero  is  often  a 
greater.  Ask  the  one  in  battle  who  has  his  head  cut  off  and  the  one 
who  did  the  cutting,  after  he  is  killed  by  another,  and  both  would  like 
to  answer  in  angry  tones  :  War?  War?  War? — No !  No !  No !  Then  why  do 
people  kill  each  other? — because  they  are  fools!  fools!  What's  the  use 
of  living  if  you  are  going  to  be  killed?  If  all  people  fear  war,  why  do 
they  have  war?  If  all  peoples  don't  want  it,  why  do  they  want  it?" 
Again  placing  his  finger  on  his  nose,  Nixus  continued:  "Because  they 
allow  themselves  to  be  touched  by  the  wrong  gods,  who  delight  in  their 
foolishness.  Even  a  coward,  in  the  heat  of  excitement,  may  appear 
courageous  and  become  a  hero." 

Spartonio,  one  of  the  nobles,  arose  and  laughingly  said :  "We  have 
besides,  as  a  jester,  got  Nixus  here  to  show  how  great  a  coward  can  still 
be  alive  and  kicking  under  the  sun." 

Nixus,  bracing  himself,  replied:  "Revenge,  O  the  hour  of  revenge 
has  come!  Revenge  in  showing  (pointing  with  outstretched  arms  to 
the  small  skin  of  honey  lying  on  the  table  before  the  king)  that  I  am  a 
hero,  dead  or  alive. 

"Nixus  (pointing  again  to  the  skin  of  honey),  duty,  duty,  points  with 
outstretched  fingers — and  he  who  lingers — no  I'll  linger  no  longer.  Fel 
low  mankind!  Every  word  I  now  speak  may  add  to  the  length  of  my 
life.  Why  is  it  that  the  king's  jester  must  first  examine,  test,  taste  and 
eat  of  all  gifts  brought  to  the  king  (edibles)— before  he  is  allowed  to 
taste  or  partake  of  the  same?  It  is,  because  if  the  jester  dies,  he  can 
be  replaced  at  once,  it  being  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to  replace  a 
fool.  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium !  Fellow  Nobles !  Fellow  Countrymen." 

"No!  no!  no!"  shouted  the  nobles,  "not  countrymen." 


144  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

The  jester  replied :  "Ain't  I  living  in  the  same  country?  If  we  ain't 
countrymen,  what  are  we?  They  say  I  was  wafted  here  from  some 
foreign  shore,  tied  in  a  lamb's  skin,  on  a  large  cedar  log.  Upon  an  early 
morning,  a  young  Spartan  couple  strolling  along  the  shore,  heard  a  baby 
crying,  tied  on  a  cedar  log.  The  young  man  said :  'I'll  get  it ;  it  will 
save  us  some  trouble.'  They  fed  me  on  goat's  milk  and  'tis  said  they 
let  me  run  around  because  there  was  no  danger  of  my  being  stolen  on 
account  of  my  good  looks !  When  I  said  I  doubted  the  story,  they  said : 
'What  does  a  baby  know?'  That's  the  way  they  fixed  the  story  on  me. 

"Duty!  Now  I  will  show  you  the  hero  that  I  am,"  upon  which  he 
ran  out  and  immediately  returned  with  a  neatly  pictured  bowl.  While 
emptying  the  honey  from  the  small  skin  into  the  bowl,  Nixus  said: 
"Spartans  and  Athenians,  your  heroism  and  valor  on  the  fields  of  battle 
is  known  over  mountains,  seas,  rivers  and  creeks.  But  the  duty  I  am 
to  perform  now — to  partake  of  this  honey — which  has  been  sent  by 
strange  people  as  a  gift  to  our  king;  that,  in  the  face  of  possible  slow, 
or  instant  death,  requires  heroism,  courage  and  valor  above  that  of  the 
warrior.  Who  is  the  greatest  of  heroes?  It  is  I ;  ready  to  do  and  to 
die  for  my  king,  and  incidentally  for  the  glory  of  the  Spartan  nation ! 
I  have  a  wonderful  appetite,  as  I  have  not  eaten  since  my  return  from 
the  wolf  chase.  With  this  spoon  and  with  this  bread,  O  how  soon  may 
I  be  dead !  But  this  honey  does  taste  fine. 

I've  saved  our  king's  life  once  before, 
By  testing  wines  from  foreign  shore. 
It  tasted  sweet,  but  death  did  lurk 
In  every  drop — it  made  me  jerk 
And  jump  and  holler  long  and  loud, 
Which  scared  away  the  scheming  crowd, 
Who  friendship  feigned,  but  sought  to  kill, 
But  knew  not  of  this  jester's  skill. 

This  honey,  too,  does  taste  quite  queer, 

If  it  should  kill  I  have  great  fear 

That  war — war — war  would  rampant  rage." 

In  the  meantime,  while  Nixus  was  eating  voraciously,  Terrafirma 
stood  up  and  said: 

"To  Nixus,  O  the  only  brave,  we  wish  to  say  we  clove  the  wave, 
And  landed  on  your  Spartan  shore,  in  peace  and  friendship — what  is 

more, 
To  play  the  games  our  fathers  played  with  Spartan  heroes,  man  and 

maid; 

And  when  we  sail  the  shore  away,  brave  Nixus  then  will  surely  say: 
O  stay,  O  stay ;   why  not  prolong  the  days  of  joyful  sport  and  song?" 

Nixus,  still  eating  voraciously  until  it  seemed  as  though  no  honey 
would  be  left  for  the  king,  said : 

"I'm  going  now  to  be  right  proud, 
A  noble  Grecian  spoke  aloud 
To  me  direct,  with  great  respect." 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  145 

Still  eating  In  great  haste,  Nixus  further  Baid : 

"I  never  knew  such  thing  as  fear, 
My  eating  honey  proves  it  here 
From  distant  shores,  far  o'er  the  main, 
Who  knows  but  what  it  may  contain 
Some  sleeping  potion — unto  death, 
Some  mixture,  cutting  short  one's  breath? 
But  I  must  to  the  bottom  get, 
I've  eaten  not  enough — not  yet, 
For  on  the  bottom  often  lies 
The  fatal  mixture  in  disguise." 

Theognis  interrupted:  "I  suppose  that  jesters  always  believe  in 
going  to  the  bottom  of  things." 

Nixus  says :  "O,  O,  I  am  through  testing  and  I  can  safely,  O  Gythio, 
recommend  this  delicious  Hymettus  honey,  such  as  is  presented  from 
friend  to  friend." 

Upon  a  sign  from  the  king,  Nixus  departed. 

The  king  ate  some  of  the  honey  and  said:  "Hymettus*  honey  is 
truly  delicious.  I  shall  also,  later  on,  partake  thereof." 

"The  truth  is,"  continued  Strabo,  speaking  from  the  ship's  rostrum, 
"the  jester  ate  up  most  all  of  the  honey." 

All  of  the  voyagers  laughed  and  the  Nestor  of  the  ship  said:  "You 
allowed  the  jester  to  get  the  best  of  you  and  the  king."  Strabo  replied : 
"What  could  we  do?"  "Why,"  said  Nestor,  "on  seeing  what  would  become 
of  the  honey,  if  the  jester  kept  on  eating  with  his  ravenous  appetite, 
you  could  easily  have  risen  and  said:  'King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by 
virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  we  overlook  the  custom,  when  bringing 
wine  or  eatables  to  a  king  from  a  foreign  shore,  that  we  should  first 
ourselves  drink  and  partake  of  same.'  Then  you  could  have  eaten  just 
enough  to  show  that  it  contained  no  deadly  mixture  and  there  would 
have  been  a  goodly  quantity  left  for  the  king." 

"Good  Nestor,"  replied  Strabo,  "why  did  you  not  tell  us  all  such 
things  beforehand?" 

Strabo,  of  the  Landing  Committee,  continued:  "The  king  had  or 
dered  a  skin  of  wine  from  which  the  goblets  at  all  tables  were  filled." 
King  Gythio  arose,  all  following  likewise,  and  said:  "We  relish  this 
wine  in  the  spirit  of  friendship  existing  between  Athenians  and  Spar 
tans,"  which  was  followed  by  rousing  cheers  from  Athenians  and  Spar 
tans.  Fatallus  arose  and  said : 

"In  sacred  remembrance  of  the  friendship  of  our  heroic  forefathers 
and  in  view  of  the  present  still  continued  friendship  between  Laconia 
and  Attica,  I  also  propose  seven  cheers,"  which  was  followed  by  rousing 
cheers.  We  asked  the  king  to  inform  all  his  people  that  we  came  in 
peace  and  friendship,  so  that  no  misunderstandings  could  occur,  to  which 
he  agreed."  The  king  said : 


146  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Noble  Spartans!  Phoebus  is  sinking  at  the  world's  west  end  and 
our  Athenian  friends  are  about  to  return  to  the  ship  for  the  night. 
Spartonius,  gather  all  the  horse,  chariots  and  warriors  in  line  and  we'll 
escort  our  friends  to  their  wonderful  ship."  Upon  proceeding  upon  the 
line  of  march,  Spartonius  asked  us  to  take  our  choice  of  riding  in  the 
chariots  or  on  horse.  We  preferred  to  ride  on  horseback,  as  you  noticed 
on  our  return.  The  king  has  been  informed  that  all  the  ship's  voyagers 
wish  to  mingle  freely  among  his  people,  and  that  Sophon  will,  in  an 
address,  explain  more  fully  the  object  of  our  voyage.  We  said  that  we 
would  be  pleased  to  have  the  king  and  nobles  and  tradespeople  visit  our 
ship.  Whether  the  king  will  come  on  our  ship  in  person,  is  a  question. 
Those  around  him  seemed  to  warn  him  not  to  place  too  much  confidence 
in  the  peoples  of  other  lands.  The  jester  talk  that  we  must  have  kid 
napped  our  beautiful  maidens  from  many  shores  may  be  taken  as  a 
warning  hint.  We  informed  the  King  that  the  ship's  voyagers,  men  and 
maidens,  would  come  on  land  tomorrow  morning  early,  and  would  be 
pleased  to  join  in  games  and  sports  and  dances  in  which  all  the  partici 
pants  could  contest  for  prizes  of  honor.  The  King  said  he  would  be 
pleased  to  witness  such  games  on  the  Plain  sacred  to  Hercules,  which 
is  not  far  distant  from  the  palace.  Spartonius  said  he  would  early  on 
the  coming  morning,  march  with  the  warriors  and  chariots,  followed  by 
a  large  number  of  Spartan  men  and  maidens  to  the  wharf,  where 
we  could  fall  in  line  and  march  to  the  Plain  of  Athletico,  sacred  to 
Hercules,  near  the  King's  palace.  Your  Committee  of  Landing  has  now, 
up  to  the  present  time,  completed  its  duties." 

The  landing1  committee  has  descended  from  the  rostrum  to  the 
deck.  No  voyagers  are  to  go  ashore  this  evening,  as  the  shades  of 
night  are  falling  fast.  Plans  for  the  morrow  will  be  arranged  early  in 
the  morning.  A  large  number  of  Spartan  boats  are  rowing  around  our 
ship. 

"Scriborites,  I  am  here  to  relieve  you,"  says  Anaxogerous,  the  night 
scribe. 

Anaxogerous :  "The  sea  is  still  quite  calm  and  the  wind  is  still  north 
east.  Captain  Arteus  is  informing  our  sailors  to  make  it  known  to  the 
numerous  boats  not  to  bump  against  our  ship.  First  and  third  mates 
Hilicarus  and ,  Aristides  are  now  in  charge  of  the  ship  for  the  night. 
All  the  voyagers  are  retiring  early  this  evening,  lulled  to  sleep  likely  by 
the  unaccustomed  sea  air.  A  large  rock  just  flew  over  the  ship,  close  to 
Aristides'  head.  It  must  have  been  a  powerful  slinger  to  throw  such  a 
rock  out  over  the  ship.  The  town  and  wharf  are  quiet.  Numer 
ous  boats  are  fastened  to  the  shores.  The  bright  moonlight  turns  night 
into  partial  day.  Some  animals  are  howling  on  shore.  The  watch 
calls  down :  'Wolves  are  howling  in  the  hills  toward  the  Taygetus 
mountains.'  An  arrow  has  just  struck  and  fastened  itself  in  the  first 


[  The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  147 

mast.  Hilicarus  orders  a  seaman  to  get  it  down.  It  is  a  heavy,  strong, 
death-bringing  dart.  The  wolves  are  howling  near  the  shore.  The 
Spartan  night  watchman  in  the  town  is  heard  to  call  out  at  intervals  in 
the  Spartan  Greek:  'It's  night;  all's  right.' 

"Oh,  the  nightingale  is  singing  in  the  dark  foliage  on  shore.  How 
mellifluously  sweet,  clear  and  indescribably  beautiful  is  its  song!  Oh 
thou  needest  not  feel  sad,  Philomela,  because  the  gods  have  changed  you 
into  a  nightingale.  Although  your  dress  is  plain,  of  thy  song  poets  vie 
in  its  praise,  admitting  their  inability  to  do  full  justice  to  its  indescrib 
able  beauty  and  sweetness.  Even  the  sailor  watch  on  the  high  mast 
above  is  moved  to  call  down  in  the  stillness  of  the  night :  'How  beauti 
ful  the  nightingale  is  singing.'  Philomela !  Wherever  an  Athenian  hears 
thy  lay  it  reminds  him  of  night  in  the  olive  groves  of  Attica,  especially 
sweet  and  sacred  is  thy  song,  to  Athenians,  for  thou  wert  the  beloved 
daughter  of  Pandion,  King  of  our  native  Attica.  Sing  on!  Philomela, 
bird  as  thou  now  art,  thy  lay  leads  us  to  heights  above ;  to  the  regions 
of  love,  touches  the  heart  to  rapture,  ecstasy,  delight  unutterable !  The 
soft  night-breeze  causes  the  wavelets  to  gently  pat  the  ship's  side.  Sec 
ond  commander  Hilicarus  is  looking  aloft  to  the  flag.  I  asked  him: 
'How  are  you  satisfied  with  the  sailing  and  ways  of  our  big  ship?' " 

"Very  well,"  he  answered.  Continuing,  he  said:  "But  we  have  so 
far  only  sailed  in  fair  weather,  with  a  fair  breeze.  I  hope,"  he  said, 
"that  we  will  not  remain  in  this  port  any  longer  than  necessary,  so 
we  can  proceed  on  our  journey  before  we  encounter  a  real  storm. 
That  will  give  us  time  to  learn  the  many  ropes,  handle  the  large  sails, 
and  know  the  ways  of  the  ship.  The  most  experienced  seamen  cannot 
talk  of  experience  when  he  comes  on  this  ship,  because  its  rigging  and 
sails,  in  size  and  number  are  so  very  different  and  out  of  comparison 
to  all  other  ships  that  ever  plowed  the  seas  or  ever  will."  The  fisher 
men  on  the  small  island  are  already  getting  their  boats  in  readiness  for 
the  sea.  Rosy  Aurora  is  majestically  looming  up  over  the  mountains 
on  the  distant  eastern  shore.  It  is  day.  Scriborites  is  on  deck  for  the 
day.  Thus  am  I  relieved. 

Scriborites:  "Many  small  boats  with  lateen  sails  and  boats  with 
oarsmen  are  moving  around  on  the  water,  beholding  our  wonder  ship. 
The  breeze  is  still  northeast  and  the  sea  calm.  The  voyagers  have  all 
finished  their  morning  meal  and  are  coming  on  deck."  Captain  Arteus 
says :  "Voyagers,  we  should  not  loiter  on  our  way.  We  should  hasten 
from  port  to  port,  so  as  to  round  off  the  grand  ship's  first  voyage  in  the 
shortest  possible  time."  Marstenes,  standing  in  the  center  of  the  deck, 
commanded:  'Voyagers,  form  in  line,'  the  ladies  forming  in  columns 
on  one  side  of  the  ship  and  the  men  likewise  on  the  other  side. 

Orato,  priest  of  Athene,  and  all  other  Athenian  gods,  ascended  the 
rostrum.  Incense  is  now  burning  in  censers,  up  at  the  end  of  the  large 


148  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

yard  arms.  Orato,  upon  lighting  the  incense  in  the  tripod  at  his  side, 
said :  "Athene,  sprung  from  the  brain  of  Zeus,  the  all-wise  ruler  of  the 
world!  Thou,  who  aided  the  Argonautic  expedition,  in  its  search 
of  the  Golden  Fleece !  Thou,  O  Athene,  who  has  aided  us  in  arriving  at 
this,  our  first  landing  place  in  safety !  O  may  the  sweet  incense  arising 
from  the  golden  tripod,  standing  at  my  side,  and  the  incense  from  the 
censers  at  the  yards  ends  aloft,  be  acceptable  to  thee  as  an  acknowledg 
ment  of  our  appreciation  and  thanks  for  thy  kind  favors.  Whenever 
and  wherever,  we  may  offer  thanks  and  sacrifice  to  any  of  our  other 
special  gods  of  Greece,  a  part  is  always  to  be  shared  by  you  in  like 
manner,  as  a  prayer  to  thee,  O  Athene,  is  always  shared  by  Zeus,  who 
rules  over  all." 

Orato  again  mingled  among  the  voyagers  and  the  Committee  of 
Rules  and  Order  took  position  on  the  rostrum. 

Meander  said:  "Agreeable  to  the  wish  of  Captain  Arteus  the  ship 
will  not  remain  at  any  landing  longer  than  necessary,  so  that  the  ship 
can  complete  its  first  voyage  in  the  shortest  possible  time.  The  object 
of  our  voyage  is  Commerce.  This,  we  have  been  told,  cannot  be  re 
peated  too  often.  The  advice  given  by  Bartorius,  a  trader  of  Athens, 
'The  path  toward  selling,  buying  and  barter  should  be  paved  with 
games  and  entertainments,  so  as  to  humor  into  friendship  those  with 
whom  one  wishes  to  trade  and  do  business  with,'  should  be  well  borne 
in  mind.  Friendship  dispels  suspicion,  creates  confidence  and  opens  the 
way  to  profitable  barter.  Therefore,  not  only  the  games  and  dances, 
which  will  be  presided  over  by  Gracio,  will  be  for  our  mutual  enjoyment, 
but  will  also,  at  the  same  time,  lead  in  an  agreeable  manner  to  profit 
able  commerce." 

Spartonius,  commander  of  the  King's  warriors,  we  can  see,  is  now 
marshaling  his  forces  into  line,  including  horsemen,  charioteers,  maid 
ens  and  men,  a  large  number  of  whom  will,  at  the  festival,  contest  for 
prizes  of  honor. 

Diagorax,  speaking  from  the  rostrum,  said :  "If,  in  the  contests  for 
prizes,  it  should  be  found  that  we  would  easily  secure  the  first  prizes, 
efforts  should  slacken,  so  as  to  allow  most  all  of  the  first  prizes  to  be 
won  by  the  Spartans ;  our  main  object  being  commercial  friendship. 

"On  the  other  hand,  we  should  exert  ourselves  to  win  some  of  the 
prizes  to  show  that  we  are  worthy  contestants.  The  procession  on  the 
shore  is  now  beginning  to  march  from  the  palace.  We  will  refrain  from 
mentioning  the  boat  race,  chariot  race,  boxing  or  wrestling  contests,  but 
will  suggest  pole  climbing,  lance  casting,  archery  (including  the  maid 
ens),  hurling  of  the  discus,  foot  racing  (also  maidens),  athletic  exercises 
on  the  bar  (maidens  and  men),  and  dancing. 

"As  soon  as  Spartonius  and  the  column  arrives  near  to  our  landing 
those  of  our  voyagers,  highly  gifted  by  Euterpe,  the  Goddess  of  Music, 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  149 

will,  at  the  command  of  Marstenes,  follow  the  first  division  of  voyagers 
to  the  wharf,  after  which  the  second  division  will  follow,  all  marching 
in  couples  of  man  and  maid.  Fifty  men  and  maiden  voyagers,  clad  in 
armor  and  ready  for  action  upon  shortest  call,  will  remain  on  the  ship 
until  relieved  by  a  like  number  who  are  to  return  from  the  festival  at 
a  stated  time.  Upon  arriving  at  the  plain,  sacred  to  Hercules,  Orato, 
our  priest,  will,  on  the  stand  near  the  king,  light  the  goldeu  tripod  in 
honor  of  Hercules.  Our  artists,  Graphites  and  Oristotle,  will  sketch  the 
king  and  his  retinue,  and  also  the  scene  of  the  festival.  Upon  arriving 
at  the  Plain  of  Athletico,  sacred  to  Hercules,  Sophon  will  hold  an  ad 
dress  to  the  Spartan  populace. 

"Sophon's  address  concluded,  Rosania  will  ask  the  Spartans  to  join 
in  the  well-known  song-. 

When  Greek  joins  Greek  on  festal  day, 
The  watchword  is  :   Fair  play !   Fair  play  ! 

"After  the  songs  there  will  be  contests  in  the  games  and  sports,  also 
dances  and  songs,  as  arranged  by  Gracio,  and  one  of  the  Spartans  will 
also  take  place.  After  the  presentation  of  the  prizes,  of  which  we  will 
offer  a  finely  carved  bowl,  a  helmet  with  plumes  that  nod, 
worthy  to  adorn  a  god ;  a  buckskin  quiver,  beaded  finely,  a  painted  bow 
of  rare  design,  etc.  The  other  prizes  will  be  olive  wreaths  and  oak 
wreaths.  These  are  all  the  preparations  made  so  far  for  the  festival. 
The  procession  of  the  Gythian  populace,  as  we  see,  has  arrived  near  our 
wharf,  where  we  are  to  join  them.  Marstenes  will  now  command  us." 

Under  Marstenes'  command,  the  first  division  was  formed  into 
couples  and  passed  down  the  ship's  ladder  onto  the  wharf.  The  maidens, 
clad  in  dark  green  athletic  gowns,  their  wealth  of  hair  scintillating  with 
brilliant  jewels.  Each  maiden  wore  a  beautifully  ornamented  buckskin 
quiver  on  her  back  and  an  unstrung  bow  in  her  hand.  The  men  are  clad 
in  gray  athletic  dress  with  bronze  helmets,  with  nodding  horse  hair  on 
their  heads. 

The  second  division  of  warriors,  under  command  of  Rosania,  is 
now  also  descending  to  the  wharf  in  like  manner.  Spartonius  is  hold 
ing  a  conversation  with  Marstenes.  Our  voyagers  are  placed  in  the 
front  position  of  the  marching  line.  Anaxogerous,  Militos  and  Scribo- 
rites,  the  scribes,  are  allowed  to  be  all  over  and  anywhere,  as  long 
as  we  attend  to  our  duties  of  noting  down  facts  and  facts  only. 

'Tis  said  that  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of 
Sparta,  is  awaiting  the  voyagers  and  populace  at  the  Plain  of  Athletico, 
accompanied  by  his  principal  nobles.  Spartonius'  order  moved  the  large 
marching  column  forward  to  the  step  of  the  Spartan  musicians.  The 
music  of  the  Spartan  musicians,  as  does  all  spirited  music,  inspires  the 
limbs  with  strength,  the  countenance  with  a  joyful  expression,  and  ere- 


150  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ates  a  feeling  as  if  one  could  march  to  the  end  of  the  world  without 
tiring.  The  city's  houses  are  of  stone  and  of  burnt  brick,  plain,  but 
durable.  The  city,  at  places,  is  partly  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall.  The 
procession  has  now  passed  the  palace.  Marching  on,  the  procession  is 
now  moving  out  of  the  city  under  the  stone  arched  gate  near  the  palace. 
The  field  of  Athletico,  sacred  to  Hercules,  extends  one  stadium  from  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  gate.  It  is  a  large,  level,  open,  grassy  space,  well 
situated  for  chariot  racing  and  athletic  sports.  The  King  and  his  reti 
nue  are  seated  under  a  gracefully  festooned  canopy  on  each  side  of 
which  are  long  rows  of  terraced  seats  for  the  spectators.  On  the  field, 
in  front  of  the  King,  is  a  decorated  stand  for  the  judges  who  are  to  de 
cide  the  contests  and  the  games  and  to  award  the  prizes.  The  view  of 
the  spectators  is  towards  the  north.  The  procession  has  now  arrived 
and  is  standing  in  long  columns  before  the  King.  Spartonius  announces 
that  all  of  the  populace  who  do  not  wish  to  enter  into  the  contests  may 
proceed  to  occupy  the  terraced  seats.  Special  seats  are  reserved  near 
the  King  for  all  taking  part  in  the  contests.  All  those  who  intended 
to  take  part  in  the  games  and  contests  remained  standing  in  their  lines, 
including  all  of  our  voyagers.  Spartonius  and  Marstenes  hold  a  conver 
sation.  Spartan  maidens  are  passing  around  fastening  a  tiny  cedar 
twig  on  the  garment  of  all  of  us  voyagers.  One  of  the  Spartan  maidens 
announced  to  Prince  Gyphodus  that  it  took  three  hundred  and  fifty-two 
cedar  twigs.  In  this  manner,  the  Spartans  informed  themselves  as  to 
our  numbers.  The  young  maidens  had  counted  the  cedar  twigs  used  cor 
rectly,  as  twenty-five  young  men  and  the  same  number  of  maidens  re 
mained  on  the  ship,  to  be  relieved  by  a  like  number  in  the  course  of 
time.  Thus  the  three  hundred  and  fifty-two  twigs  required,  and  the  fifty 
voyagers  remaining  on  the  ship,  made  our  four  hundred  and  two. 

The  Spartans  express  themselves  somewhat  differently  to  the  Athen 
ians,  but  we  can  converse  and  understand  each  other  readily.  Short 
sentences  seem  to  be  peculiar  to  their  language. 

Marstenes,  with  raised  sword,  commanded  seven  cheers  for  King 
Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  saying:  "Long 
may  your  majesty  enjoy  the  light  of  the  sun  and  long  remain  from  the 
shades  below." 

The  cheers  were  given  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  voyagers. 

The  King  arose  and  with  a  flourish  of  his  sword,  commanded  the 
Spartan  warriors,  athletes  and  populace  to  give  seven  cheers  for  the 
Athenians,  which  resounded  far  out  over  the  mountains.  Our  priest, 
Orato,  not  far  distant  from  the  King,  has  lit  the  incense  in  our  golden 
tripod,  thanking  Zeus  for  the  friendship  existing  between  Sparta  and 
Athens,  and  invoking  the  power  of  Zeus  for  the  continuance  of  such 
friendship  for  all  time  to  come. 

King  Gythio  arose  and  said: 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  151 

"Noble  Athenians:  Prince  Gyphodus,  who  is  a  young  man  and  has 
more  pleasure  in  speaking  than  has  an  old  man,  will  address  you." 

Prince  Gyphodus,  standing  near  the  King,  said:  "Brave  Friends, 
Athenians,  in  the  name  of  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the 
King  of  Sparta,  I  again  formally  address  and  welcome  you  to  our  land 
and  to  this  festival,  which  has  been  instituted  in  your  honor.  Your 
friendly  visit  pleases  us  all  greatly.  We  can  see  you  are — must  be — the 
Flower  of  Athens.  We  now  feel  and  know  why  you  Athenians  are 
noted  for  making  fine  statues  and  fine  works  of  art.  It  is  all  plain  to 
us  now.  Nothing  else  could  be  expected — surrounded,  as  you  are,  daily 
by  beautiful  living  goddess-like  models,  both  men  and  women.  Our 
jester  spoke  the  truth  in  the  presence  of  your  Committee  of  Landing. 
He  drawled  in  his  own  manner :  'On  first  sight,  it  can  be  seen  that  each 
of  the  voyagers  is  fit  to  be  an  heir  to  a  crown,  kingship  or  queenship.' 
No  title  of  nobility  can  be  too  high  or  exclusive  for  men  or  maidens 
such  as  the  grand  ship  Aeolus  has  brought  to  our  shores.  Athenians, 
you  see  what  I  have  to  say  here  has  been  traced  on  this  birch  bark  by 
our  scribe,  as  spoken  to  him  by  me.  I  was  told  that  Sophon  will  hold 
a  lengthy  oration,  not  from  an  inscribed  bark,  but  from  his  mind  direct. 
It  may  be,  as  in  archery  or  in  throwing  the  spear,  continued  efforts 
strengthen.  So,  may  it  be  with  the  mind.  It  is  said  that  our  Spartan 
forefathers,  at  the  Siege  of  Troy,  were  known  to  the  other  contingents 
as  'the  men  of  few  words.'  So  you  are  now  in  the  land  of  few  words, 
Laconian  Sparta.  If  I  had  known  of  your  coming,  I  should  have  tried 
to  gather  more  words  for  this  festival.  My  Spartan,  Laconian  country 
men  claim  that  I  alone  use  too  many  words  in  speaking.  So  you,  Athen 
ians,  can  know  that  we  Spartans  are  today,  as  were  our  forefathers 
at  the  Siege  of  Troy,  men  of  few  words.  (Applause.) 

"Your  god-like  ship,  you  named  Aeolus  in  honor  of  the  God  of  the 
Winds.  Aeolus,  with  his  soft,  wide  arms,  has  pressed  you  safely  to  our 
shores,  unharmed,  your  ship  appearing  just  as  if  it  had  been  launched 
from  our  shores  this  day.  Wisely  have  you  honored  Aeolus.  But  the 
peoples,  on  whatever  shores  you  may  land,  will  all  think  it  ought  to 
have  been  named  The  Beauty  Ship. 

"I  asked  one  of  your  voyagers  how  such  a  large  ship  could  be  built 
by  human  hands.  He  replied :  'With  the  assistance  of  the  gods  only.' 
I  should  have  known  that.  For  upon  the  first  beholding  of  the  ship,  I 
felt  it.  The  gods — may  they  be  favorable  to  you  Athenians  upon  your 
daring  adventure  to  unknown  lands.  (Great  applause  by  the  Spar 
tans.  ) 

"Your  grand  ship  will  be  wondered  at  on  all  shores.  But  upon  its 
departure,  the  god-like  grandness  of  your  ship  Aeolus  will  not  only  be 
rehearsed,  retold  to  coming  generations,  but  so  also  will  be  the  beauty 
of  its  noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred.  (Great  applause  by  Spartans.) 


152  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  greatly  we  admire  the  beauty  and  strength  of 
your  manhood  and  womanhood.  Words  cannot  express  the  delight  of 
our  eyes,  the  wonderment  of  our  mind  and  the  feelings  of  our  hearts. 
Charming  beauty,  united  with  nobleness,  strength,  courage  and  wisdom. 
(Wild  applause  by  Spartans.) 

"The  fresh,  pure,  blushing  countenances,  large,  sparkling,  friendly, 
fearless  eyes,  noble  bearing,  stately,  well-rounded  forms,  show  that 
Hygeia  has  favored  you  all  with  superior  exclusive  excellencies.  Also 
we  can  see  and  feel  that  the  high  goddess  Athene  (Minerva),  sprung 
from  the  brain  of  Zeus,  has  favored  you  with  superior  insight  of  mind. 
The  work  of  your  most  god-inspired  artists  can  never  be  more  than  a 
faint  imitation  of  the  real  noble  beauty  of  our  Athenian  visitors.  (Great 
applause  by  Spartans.) 

"Would  that  your  grand  ship  would  remain  in  our  waters  several 
days  instead  of  one  day.  (Applause  by  Spartans.)  Then  our  horsemen 
would  speed  to  Sparta  and  try  to  find  and  inform  our  great  King  of 
Sparta,  who  is  hunting  the  wild  boar  and  stag  on  the  distant  mountains, 
of  your  visit  here.  He  would  surely  be  glad  to  meet  you  and  greet  you 
Athenians,  descendants  of  the  brave  Athenians  led  by  Menestheus  at 
the  Siege  of  Troy,  to  assist  Menelaus  with  the  other  Greek  contingents, 
to  regain  his  fair  spouse  Helen  again.  Our  forefathers'  noble  King 
Menelaus  felt  heart  broken  when  he  learned  that  Paris,  a  prince  of  the 
house  of  King  Priam,  of  Troy,  had,  during  his  absence  on  a  hunt  in  the 
mountains,  induced  his  oeautiful  wife  to  elope  with  him  to  distant 
Troy. 

"The  brave,  fearless  Menelaus  was  King  of  Sparta  at  the  time  of 
our  great  grandsires.  From  the  shore  where  your  noble  ship  Aeolus  is 
grandly  floating,  there  where  we  now  see  her  huge  masts  and  beautiful 
rainbow  flags  waving,  there  from  our  shores,  Paris  sailed  in  the  still 
ness  of  night,  eastward  to  far-off  distant  Troy.  Poets  have  vied  in 
writing  of  the  beauty  of  Helen ;  poets  have  labored  to  record  the  deeds 
of  heroism  and  bravery  displayed  by  the  Trojan,  as  well  as  by  the 
Grecian  warriors.  But  none  have  recorded  their  noble  deeds  as  well  as 
Homer.  (Great  applause  by  Spartans  and  Athenians.) 

"All  of  us  Spartans,  from  childhood,  generation  after  generation, 
eagerly  listen  to  our  elders  on  telling  of  the  heroism,  daring  and  vic 
tory  gained  by  the  united  Greek  contingents  after  a  nine  years'  war  at 
the  Siege  of  Troy,  and  we  all,  to  this  day,  thankfully  express  our 
thanks  to  you  Athenians  present  here  this  day,  for  the  heroic  aid  given 
by  your  noble  forefathers  to  our  Spartan  King  Menelaus,  ending  in  the 
victory — the  destruction  of  Troy  and  the  return  of  Helen  under  the 
roof  of  our  King  Menelaus.  (Great  applause.) 

"The  blood  of  fair  Helen  and  King  Menelaus  is  still  coursing  through 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  153 

the  veins  of  many  of  our  noble  Spartan  men  and  women  at  this  day. 
(Great  applause  by  Athenians.) 

"Every  Spartan  youth  and  maid  is  taught  that  to  be  noble  is  to 
emulate  the  daring  bravery  of  our  heroic  forefathers.  We  are  told  that 
the  implements  of  war  of  the  Athenians  at  the  Siege  of  Troy  were 
fashioned  finer  and  ornamented  more  beautifully  than  those  of  any  of 
the  other  contingents.  Only  was  there  one  grand  exception,  namely: 
the  strong,  beautiful  shield  of  Achilles,  and  that,  by  the  wish  of  Thetis, 
Achilles'  goddess-mother,  was  fashioned  by  the  god-artist  Haephestus 
(Vulcan),  who,  in  company  with  fire  and  flame,  forges  the  hardest, 
strongest  metals  most  beautifully.  In  all  besides,  the  Athenians  ex 
celled  in  their  ornamentations  of  war  clubs,  catapults,  spears,  bows  and 
arrows,  ships  and  oars,  even  in  their  ornamental  stones.  Thus  show 
ing  an  eye  and  longing  desire  for  the  beautiful.  This  longing  for  the 
beautiful,  we  see,  has  made  it  possible  for  us  to  behold  this  day  the 
most  beautiful  of  Greeks.  Whenever  we  thought  of  Athens,  we  thought 
of  beauty;  and  we  shall  now  think  even  more  so.  Although,  noble 
Athenians,  you  have  just  about  placed  your  feet  upon  our  shores,  we 
cannot  fail  to  note  the  symbol  of  your  beautiful  rainbow-colored  flags, 
which  is  reflected  in  your  joyous,  hopeful,  eager  countenances ;  and  that 
you  delight  in  all  things  noble  and  beautiful.  Thus,  in  your  admiration, 
love  and  thankfulness  for  the  countless  beauties  with  which  our  gods 
have  so  profusely  decorated  this  broad,  flat  world,  you  have,  it  seems, 
by  the  favor  of  our  Olympian  gods,  inhaled  the  same  realization,  your 
beauty,  courage  and  nobility  stamping  you  as  an  exclusive  higher  race 
among  mankind. 

"Noble  thoughts  can  only,  it  is  said,  be  entertained  by  such  as  revere 
and  admire  the  noble  works  of  our  gods.  Beauty  and  nobility  delight 
to  dwell  together.  There  is  a  saying  in  other  lands,  'tis  said,  that: 

"Upon  this  world's  broad,  wide,  flat  face, 
None  equal  in  beauty,  our  Grecian  race." 

"Prompted  by  curiosity  and  impatience,  early  before  Aurora  her 
alded  the  coming  of  day,  I  rowed  singly  in  a  small  boat  alongside  of 
your  grand  ship  Aeolus.  Upon  the  rising  of  rosy  Aurora,  I  looked  up, 
and  beheld  standing  on  the  ship's  bulwark  a  beautiful,  stately  maiden 
looking  up  towards  our  city.  I  sat  quietly,  overcome  by  her  exquisite 
beauty.  I  sat  unperceived.  Standing,  as  she  did,  with  one  hand  grasp 
ing  the  rigging  and  looking  thoughtfully  toward  the  shore,  she  ap 
peared  like  a  beautiful  statue.  Free,  erect,  unconscious  of  being  ob 
served,  she  represented  her  true  self.  Her  wealth  of  light  blonde  hair, 
large,  heavenly  blue  eyes,  beautiful,  classic  features,  form  clad  in 
heavy  pure  white,  hanging  down  in  heavy  folds,  and  her  motionless  pose 


154  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

made  her  appear  as  a  beautiful  white  marble  statue,  sculptored  by  none 
but  the  gods  themselves.  Your  beautiful,  light  blonde  maiden  with  a 
slight  tinge  of  blushing  Aurora  on  her  countenance,  clad  in  heavy  pure 
white  garments  with  heavy  hanging  folds  drew  forth  from  the  depths 
of  my  rapture  and  ecstasy  intuitively,  the  words:  'Marble  beauty.' 
Although  she  looked  for  all  the  world  like  a  pure  white  marble  statue, 
illumined  by  Aurora's  blushing  light,  I  knew  that  I  beheld  a  living, 
breathing  woman;  for  no  sculptor  or  artist  could  design  or  construct 
her  equal  in  beauty.  I  sat  below  in  my  boat  still  unobserved.  She  still 
stood  in  her  majesty  and  spotless  white  beauty  looking  studiously  up 
towards  the  town. 

"Upon  my  again  uttering  feelingly  in  a  stronger  tone,  the  words: 
'Marble  beauty,'  she  suddenly  threw  a  glance  down  towards  me  with  a 
mingled  look  of  astonishment  and  scorn  at  my  presence  there,  saying 
in  a  commanding  but  sweet  tone  of  voice:  'What  do  you  want  there?' 
upon  which  a  blush,  equal  to  Aurora's  rosy  glow,  flashed  over  her  coun 
tenance.  The  sudden,  startled  glance  thrown  down  at  me,  large  beau 
tiful,  haughty  eyes  and  bewildered  fair  countenance,  angered  at  my  in 
trusion,  it  seemed  to  me,  could  never  have  been  beheld  by  mortal  man 
without  having  been  favored  by  some  god.  And  such  a  one  favored 
by  some  god,  I  felt  myself  to  be. 

"I  can  openly  say  that  whomever  the  gods  should  favor  with  the 
sight  of  such  purity  of  beauty,  and  open,  innocent,  haughty  glance,  will 
pray  to  the  gods,  not  to  let  time  erase  the  image  from  memory's  vision, 
but  to  allow  it  to  remain  with  him  to  the  shades  below. 

"  'The  Marble  Beauty,'  as  I  shall  call  her,  after  looking  down  at 
me  for  a  short  time,  in  my  small  boat,  dropped  a  rose  into  my  boat 
and  then  immediately  stepped  down  from  the  bulwark  to  the  ship's 
deck,  out  of  sight. 

"Immediately  several  of  the  ship's  watchers  and  several  young  maid 
ens  mounted  the  bulwark  and  looked  down  at  me.  Aurora  was  still 
heralding  the  sun's  rising.  Thus  in  the  light  of  morning's  first  glow 
stood  in  line  on  the  ship's  wide  bulwark  a  number  of  handsome  men 
and  charming  maidens. 

"Looking  up,  I  said:  'Noble  Athenian  friends,  in  my  singleness,  I 
take  the  liberty  to  greet  you  in  the  name  of  all  Spartans.  May  you  re 
ceive  the  favor  of  the  Gods !'  " 

"  'Welcome,  brave  Spartan,'  answered  a  manly  voice  from  the  ship. 
'In  friendship,  we  hope  that  the  meeting  of  Spartans  and  Athenians  in 
festal  array  will  be  a  pleasing  sight  unto  the  gods.' 

"The  maidens  laughed  and  talked  down  to  me,  but  I  failed  to  catch 
their  mingled  words  fully.  My  eyes,  it  seems,  weakened  my  ears  on 
beholding  the  beauty  standing  on  the  ship's  bulwark  above  me.  Of  the 
handsome  men,  I  will  not  tell,  but  on  the  charming  maidens,  dwell.  I 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  155 

beheld  not  only  the  Marble  Beauty,  but  my  eyes  feasted  on  beautiful 
beauties,  of  blondes  in  varying  shades  and  nut-brown  and  brunette 
maidens,  showing  the  grand  ship  was  partial  to  none.  Noble  Athenians ! 
The  grandness  of  your  ship  was,  and  is  of  great  interest  to  me,  but  the 
interest  in  the  heavenly  voyagers  is  exceedingly  more  so.  Just  as  I 
was  thinking  of  rowing  back  to  shore,  an  Athenian,  known  to  me,  arose 
on  the  bulwark — Noble  Strabo,  of  your  Landing  Committee.  He  called 
down :  'Gyphodus,  Gyphodus,  Prince  Gyphodus !  I  greet  you  with  the 
warmth  of  the  rising  sun.  May  the  gods  preserve  you.' 

"He  asked  me  to  climb  up  the  ladder  to  the  ship,  but  the  coming 
day's  festival  required  my  attention. 

"While  talking  with  noble  Strabo,  who  stood  on  the  bulwark  among 
the  men  and  maidens,  a  charming  brunette,  who  stood  just  above  my 
boat,  said:  'Prince  Gyphodus,  in  the  name  of  the  maidens  of  the 
Aeolus,  we  greet  thee  with  the  warmth  of  Aurora's  rosy  glow !' 

"I  immediately  answered,  not  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  occasion, 
for,  in  my  bewilderment,  I  did  not  know  what  I  was  saying.  I  only 
know  that  I  spoke  about  the  favor  of  the  gods.  In  fact  the  sweet, 
rounded  voice  and  the  beauty  above  made  my  own  speech  deaf  to  my 
ears.  What  I  did  answer  back  is  still  a  mystery  to  me.  I  am  afraid  it 
was  void  of  sense.  The  more  I  think  of  it  the. more  ic  seems  to  me  that 
it  was  no  more  than  uttering  or  stammering  a  few  disconnected  words. 
Instead  of  wishing  the  gods'  favor  in  their  welfare,  I  should  have  im 
plored  Minerva's  assistance  to  aid  me  in  giving  an  appropriate  answer. 

"Looking  up,  I  beheld  a  stately  brunette  looking  down  at  me.  Look 
ing  down  and  up  again,  it  seemed  as  if  she  alone  filled  my  eyes ;  I  hardly 
noticed  the  others  around  her. 

"Turning  around,  on  hearing  something  soft  fall  into  my  boat,  I  saw 
a  large,  beautiful  water  lily  with  leaves  and  stem.  The  maidens  and 
men  laughed.  One  of  the  maidens  said: 

"  'Prince  Gyphodus,  accept  the  lily  as  a  gift  of  the  ship  Aeolus: 
I  looked  up  at  the  stately  brunette  and  she  looked  down  at  me.  I 
looked  down  again,  feeling  uneasy  in  looking  so  deeply  into  the  large 
beautiful  eyes  of  the  brunette  above. 

"I  gathered  courage  and  looked  up  to  her  again,  and  although  we 
uttered  not  a  word,  still  we  seemed  to  be  speaking  to  each  other,  so 
loud  as  to  create  a  fear  that  the  others  might  hear  it.  Remarks  were 
made  by  some  of  the  others  on  the  bulwark,  but  in  my  bewilderment,  I 
understood  them  not. 

"In  looking  up  again,  the  beautiful  brunette  dropped  another  lily 
into  my  boat.  I  intended  to  accept  it  with  thanks;  but  how  stupid  a 
charming  maiden  can  make  one!  I  looked  up  again  and  she  had  de 
parted  from  the  bulwark  to  the  ship's  deck,  out  of  sight.  The  sun, 
just  arising  above  the  hills,  it  was  time  for  me  to  row  back  to  the 


156  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

shore.  The  stately  brunette's  beautiful  wealth  of  hair  seemed  at  first 
glance  perfectly  black,  but  as  the  sun's  light  increased,  a  very  dark, 
fire-like  tinge  seemed  to  nestle  in  her  heavy  head  of  hair,  which  was 
short  and  curly  around  the  forehead  and  sides,  and  knotted  into  a  high 
crown  on  the  top  of  her  head,  reminding  one  of  a  picture  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  women — Pandora.  Her  hair,  although  appearing  black,  was 
greatly  beautified  by  its  almost  invisible  dark,  fiery  tinge.  It  seemed  as 
though,  at  the  setting  of  the  sun,  upon  loosening  it  the  dark  sunset 
rays  remained  lingering  there. 

"Like  the  Marble  Beauty,  I  knew  not  her  name,  but  to  me  she  is 
the  maiden  with  the  beautiful,  dark,  black,  sunset  hair. 

"While  my  boat  was  still  under  the  ship's  sail,  all  at  once  there  stood 
upon  the  bulwark,  just  above  me,  the  blonde  maiden  again,  draped  in 
heavy  white  folds — 'The  Marble  Beauty.'  She  dropped  a  rose  down 
from  the  ship;  I  caught  it  by  the  stem,  with  thanks.  I  looked  deeply 
into  her  large  blue  eyes  and  she  looked  down  directly  into  my  dark 
eyes  amply  long  for  our  eyes  to  speak  together  in  a  language  beyond 
the  power  of  speech.  I  at  once  felt  the  gods  had  decreed  it  shall  be  so. 
I  do  not  know  her  name. 

"At  this  point,  a  number  of  our  maiden  voyagers,  laughingly  in  clear 
tones,  spoke  out:  'Agathia,  Agathia,  Agathia!' 

"  'Agathia,'  Gyphodus  proceeded,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  be  in 
formed  of  her  name  again,  for  I  shall  remember  it  forever. 

"Agathia,  Agathia,  may  she  never  sail  away  from  our  shore — 
Roaming  unknown  waters  o'er." 

"This  rose  which  adorns  my  bosom,  this  rose  which  I  now  hold  aloft 
in  my  hand,  this  rose  may  fade,  but  my  admiration  for  her  never !  To 
run  a  manly  hand  through  her  wealth  of  blonde  hair  in  loving  caress 
is  only  accorded  to  him  who  has  the  favor  of  every  god  that  dwells  on 
high  Olympus. 

"I  would  keep  talking  to  you,  Athenian  friends,  without  end,  so 
as  to  have  you  remain  in  our  midst  several  days  instead  of  one ;  and  so 
that  our  brave  Spartan  King  would  have  time  to  come  and  greet  you. 
He  would  come  accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  noble  men  and 
maidens  close  to  the  kingly  house — beautiful  men,  women  and  maidens, 
through  whose  veins  courses  the  blood  of  King  Menelaus  and  the  beau 
tiful  Helen. 

"But  there  is  one  reason  why  I  shall  not  keep  on  talking.  I  long 
to  speak  and  become  closer  acquainted  with  our  noble  voyager  guests, 
and  incidentally  with  the  Marble  Beauty — we  who  conversed  with  each 
other  as  if  we  had  known*  each  other  or  should  have  known  each  other 
for  moons,  although  we  spoke  not  a  word." 


•  The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  157 

At  this  point,  old  stalwart  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the 
King  of  Sparta,  rose  and  said: 

"Noble  Athenian  Friends!  It  is  only  natural  that  our  tall,  athletic, 
dark-eyed  youth,  Prince  Gyphodus,  longs  for  the  company  of  your 
charming  blonde-tressed  Marble  beauty." 

King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  sat  down 
again,  followed  by  tremendous  applause  of  Spartans  and  Athenians. 
Hereupon,  the  queen,  King  Gythio's  spouse,  stood  up  and  said:  "Brave 
Athenians !  I,  too,  wish  to  express  my  admiration  and  wish  to  say : 

Your  men  are  more  handsome  than  Paris  of  Troy, 
Your  maidens  as  beautiful  as  Helen,  his  joy. 

"And  beholding  the  various  types  of  beauties,  I  can  also  say: 

Whether  hair  golden,  blonde  or  brunette, 
Cupid  could  form  a  lovable  set. 

"Noble,  handsome  Sons  of  Athens!  Beautiful,  divine  Daughters  of 
Athens!  Your  noble  fathers  and  mothers  must  often,  when  looking  at 
you,  give  prayers  of  thankfulness  from  the  depths  of  their  hearts,  to 
the  gods  for  the  greatest  of  blessings  vouchsafed  unto  them." 

Whereupon  the  queen  sat  down  'midst  loud  applause. 

Stalwart  old  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of 
Sparta,  arose  again,  and  stepping  slightly  forward,  said: 

"Brave  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  A  solicitous  and  earnest  thought 
brought  forth  by  my  admiration  for  your  whole  noble  race  has  just 
passed  over  my  mind,  and  I  shall  relate  a  story  often  heard  in  my 
youthful  days. 

"Once  upon  a  time,  a  prince  fell  deeply  in  love  with  a  maiden  who 
was  not  to  the  liking  of  the  king,  his  father,  nor  to  the  queen. 
Death  should  befall  the  maiden  upon  the  first  discovery  of  the  Prince's 
continued  infatuation.  Such  was  the  unalterable  decree  of  the  kingly 
house.  The  Prince  Terminos  and  the  beautiful  maiden  Elopia,  know 
ing  that  there  was  no  hope,  knowing  that  the  King  especially  prided 
himself  in  being  able  to  say  that  no  decree  of  his  had  ever  failed  of 
being  carried  out  to  the  most  extreme  limits,  Prince  Terminos  and  his 
love  Elopia  determined  to  die  in  each  other's  arms  rather  than  to  be 
doomed  to  live  apart  on  earth.  They  both  determined  to  die  in  each 
other's  arms,  but  they  wished  to  enjoy  each  other's  company  just  for  a 
Bhort  while  yet,  unmolested,  on  this  world.  And  so  in  the  stillness  and 
darkness  of  night  Prince  Terminos  and  his  love  Elopia  carried  a  large 
quantity  of  food  and  goods  into  one  of  the  Prince's  strongest  boats 
ready  for  a  long  voyage. 

"In  the  morning  the  boat,  with  one  mast  and  lateen  sail  and  four 
oars,  was  found  missing  from  the  shore,  and  so  were  the  lovers.  Several 


158  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

days  after,  a  parchment  roll,  suspended  from  a  tree  near  the  shore,  was 
found.  It  was  taken  to  the  King's  scribe  and,  unfolding  the  same,  the 
scribe  and  King  saw  that  it  was  the  lover's  farewell  to  the  king,  queen 
and  all  human  beings.  The  parchment  began  by  saying:  'We  will  not 
lead  you  on  to  discover  this  parchment  roll  until  we  are  seven  days 
distant  from  our  native  shores;  then  with  the  golden,  glaring  eye  of  day 
rising  and  looking  over  the  east  end  of  the  world  as  the  only  witness,  we 
will  stand  up  in  our  boat,  kiss  each  other  seven  times,  pat  the  liquid 
blue  seven  times  with  our  oar,  and  in  prayer,  asks  Hermes  (Mercury), 
swift-winged  messenger  of  the  gods,  to  lead  members  of  the  King's  cas 
tle  to  find  our  farewell  parchment  roll.' 

"And  on  the  seventh  day  they  discovered  it. 

"It  said  they  did  not  want  to  live  if  they  could  not  live  as  prince 
and  princess,  and  later  as  king  and  queen.  They  would  not  therefore 
land  on  any  foreign  shore,  but  would  row  and  sail,  and  row  and  sail 
toward  the  setting  sun,  thus  gaining  some  time  for  themselves  to  enjoy 
life  together  in  Elysian  bliss  and  happiness,  unmolested  until  the  Fates 
decreed  a  watery  grave  or  their  food  was  exhausted,  or  until  they 
sailed  down  over  the  end  of  the  world,  whirling  down  the  dark  abyss 
into  destruction.  This  is  the  fate,  they  believed,  that  awaited  them; 
for  they  were  in  the  swiftest  boat  and  they  would  continually  burn  the 
sweetest  of  incense  with  their  prayers  to  Aeolus  for  favorable  breezes 
to  speed  them  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

"  'Whatever,'  the  parchment  further  read,  'or  wherever  destruction 
shall  overtake  us,  we  shall  die  in  each  other's  arms.  That  is  our  daily 
prayer  to  Aeolus.  We  certainly  have  enough  food  with  us  to  sail  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  That  will  also  allot  to  us  the  longest  time  to  live 
together  in  heavenly  bliss  in  spite  of  all  kingly  decrees  and  commands. 
How  long  or  how  short  a  time,  we  shall  live  on  Neptune's  blue  liquid 
realm — to  us  its  happiness,  love,  Elysian  bliss,  will  be  more  than  is  the 
happiness  and  joy  to  such  that  live  on  earth  to  a  good  old  age.  Our 
hope  and  wish  is  to  sail  and  fall  down  over  the  edge  of  the  world ;  and 
when  our  boat  is  just  on  the  brink  of  the  world,  we  will  arise,  kiss 
each  other  seven  times,  clasp  each  other  so  tightly  that  even  in  death 
there  shall  be  no  parting — fall  down  the  dark,  roaring  endless  space  in 
each  other's  arms. 

"  'Not  being  allowed  to  live  on  the  world,  we,  even  in  death,  do  not 
wish  to  dwell  in  the  shades  below,  but  wish,  over  the  world's  end,  off 
of  the  world,  to  be  whirled  unto  destruction.  Off,  off  from  the  world, 
is  our  wish,  for  we  love  it  not.  It  allowed  us  not  to  dwell  upon  it  with 
our  love  and  happiness." 

"The  King  called  all  of  his  vassals  and  his  best  seamen  and  gave 
instructions  to  follow  on  sea  and  shore.  But  a  large  part  of  the  moon 
had  elapsed  before  the  parchment  roll  suspended  from  the  tree  had 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  159 

been  discovered,  so  the  lovers,  with  fair  breezes  with  which  Aeolus  had 
favored  them — must  have  wafted  them  far  out  on  distant  unknown 
dangerous  seas  and  perhaps  over  the  end  of  the  world.  If,  by  Aeolus' 
fair  breeze,  they  sailed  over  the  edge  of  the  world,  they  may  be  still 
falling,  in  the  endless  abyss,  clasped  in  each  other's  arms  in  death. 
The  attempts  made  to  follow  the  direction  by  the  parchment  were 
almost  always  baffled  by  stormy  adverse  winds  against  which  the  King's 
strongest  rowers  could  not  contend.  The  lovers  were  never  overtaken 
and  returned  nevermore. 

"The  King  built  a  castle  in  his  old  age,  on  a  high  promontory  over 
looking  the  sea,  at  a  window  of  which  he  sat  with  a  faint  glimmer  of 
hope  in  his  heart,  looking  for  the  Prince,  his  son,  to  greet  him,  and  his 
Elopia,  as  King  and  Queen  of  his  proud  realm.  But  in  vain!  Before 
him  unrolled,  hanging  against  the  castle  wall,  was  that  part  of  Prince 
Termino's  farewell  parchment,  at  the  lower  end  of  which  was  a  picture 
of  the  lovers,  Prince  Terminos  and  Elopia,  standing  up  in  their  boat 
in  close  embrace,  just  as  it  began  to  plunge  over  and  down  the  end  of 
the  world — down  into  the  dark,  endless  abyss,  beneath  which  stood 
written,  in  large,  plain  script: 

OFF  THE  EARTH. 

Like  an  iron  band 
Are  the  laws  of  the  land; 
But  boundless  and  free 
Are  the  laws  of  the  sea. 

"The  King  could  not  look  at  that  picture,  drawn  so  true  to  life  by 
his  son,  without  moistened  eyes,  'Tis  said  he  often  muttered : 

"Two  loving  hearts  will  dare  and  do 
Braver  acts  than  the  brave  ever  knew." 

"Athenian  Four  Hundred!"  continued  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by 
virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta :  "I  did  not  intend  to  speak  this  day  and 
Prince  Gyphodus  will  again  proceed  to  address  you ;  but  as  I  said  be 
fore,  an  earnest  thought  passed  through  my  brain,  called  forth  by  your 
noble  beauty,  recalled  that  long-forgotten  story  I  have  just  related. 
You,  adventurous  Athenians,  I  am  told,  are  also  going  far  out  on 
unknown  western  seas.  I  only  recalled  and  related  the  sad  story  of 
the  unhappy  lovers,  Prince  Terminos  and  Elopia,  to  call  your  attention 
to  the  fact  that  they  returned  nevermore.  Therefore,  dauntless  Athen 
ian  Four  Hundred!  Although  your  Aeolus  is  godlike  and  wondrous 
large,  I  implore  you,  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  be  not  too  venturesome 
for  it  would  be  an  irremediable  loss  if  you,  Noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens !  should  pass  over  the  world's  edge — off  from  the  world — into  de 
struction,  never  to  return.  The  favor  bestowed  upon  you  by  Hygeia, 
and  it  seems  by  all  the  gods  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  ought  to  be 


160  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

transmitted  to  increased  generations  yet  to  come;  for  such  are  a  delignt 
In  the  eyes  of  the  gods  and  men.  You  not  only  exemplify  beauty  of 
person,  but  also:  'A  sound  mind  in  a  healthy  body,'  which  is  in  har 
mony  with  our  Spartan  teachings. 

"It  is  well  known  to  you,  as  also  is  to  all  Spartans,  that  upon  the 
fall  of  Troy,  a  number  of  King  Priam's  household,  including  a  noted 
prince  who  had  escaped  the  Grecian  spear  and  dart,  set  sail  in  several 
ships  westward  bound.  They  never  returned,  nor  were  they  ever  heard 
of  again. 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  My  silvery  beard  and  hair  show 
that  the  many  moons  that  have  passed  over  me  have  brought  me  into 
touch  with  experiences  of  countless  kinds. 

"Young  Athenians,  you  are  in  the  full  flush  of  the  loving  period — 
a  period  in  which  all  are  liable  to  be  too  venturesome.  I  repeat  it — 
you  can  be  too  venturesome ;  for  I  am  told  you  may  even  sail  westward, 
far,  far  westward,  even  to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred !  Your  loss  would  be  a  great  calam 
ity  to  your  fair,  renowned  city  of  Athens,  yes,  a  loss  to  our  whole 
Grecian  race.  Your  large  ship,  floating  majestically,  like  a  wonderful 
large,  high  castle  with  masts  and  sails,  looks  as  if  it  were  thinking :  'I 
can  ride  over  whirlwind  and  storm — I  defy  the  God  of  Storms.'  No 
human  being  ever  beheld  such  a  big  ship  and  it  is  likely  that  your  ship 
can  override  great  storms.  Nevertheless,  be  it  known,  the  gods  in 
their  anger  are  all  powerful. 

"Fearless  Voyagers !  You  are  all  in  the  bloom  of  the  loving  period  of 
life.  Being  accompanied  by  such  maidens,  it  seems  only  natural  that 
the  noble  young  men  will  vie  with  each  other  in  the  most  reckless  dis 
play  of  daring,  courage  and  heroism.  Young  maidens  worship  and  ad 
mire  manly,  valiant  young  men — warriors.  And  it  is  this  heroism  in 
defying  storms,  in  the  companionship  of  the  fair  maidens,  that  I  fear 
may  lead  to  disaster. 

"I,  too,"  continued  the  King,  "as  a  Spartan,  love,  admire  and  praise 
nothing  more  than  courage,  bravery,  daring  and  gallantry,  adventure, 
fearlessness  and  lion-hearted  heroism.  'Tis  true,  I'm  old,  drifting  closer 
and  closer  to  the  shades  below  and  soon  can  I  expect  Charon  to  touch 
me  on  the  shoulder,  saying:  'Time's  up.'  It  is  only  natural  that  our 
Spartan  Prince  Gyphodus,  who  is  in  the  first  bloom  of  youthful  man 
hood,  should  express  his  admiration  of  your  striking  excellencies.  But 
I  must  admit  that  even  one  of  my  age  cannot  remain  unmindful  of  them. 
An  earnest  thought  has  passed  through  my  brain :  'Man  of  many  moons, 
step  up  and  save  the  noble  Athenians  from  possible  destruction  by 
timely  warning. 

"Only,  therefore,  have  I  arisen  to  speak;  for  my  voice  no  more 
reaches  to  the  distant  mountains  as  does  that  of  Prince  Gyphodus.  But 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  161 

my  eyes,  old  as  they  are,  cannot  fail,  at  the  first  glance,  to  see  that  you 
all  are  high  born  descendants  of  the  divine,  wise,  noble  Athenian  race 
of  heroes.  Your  inborn  and  trained  noble  bearing  tells  me  plainly  that 
you  have  received  the  favor  of  the  graces,  Euphrosyne,  Aglaia  and 
Thalia,  governed  by  the  spirit  of  fearlessness  and  heroism. 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  Your  ship  is  large  and  has  mon 
ster  stone  anchors.  But  the  favor  of  the  gods  and  goddesses:  Athene 
(Minerva),  Aeolus,  Poseidon  (Neptune),  including  Zeus  always,  are  the 
only  anchors  that  can  in  all  situations  protect  you  from  danger.  That 
you  sacrifice  sweet  incense  with  song  and  prayer  to  the  gods,  I  have 
seen  from  my  castle  and  it  has  filled  my  heart  with  hope  and  expecta 
tions  for  your  safe  return  from  your  voyage  to  your  city,  sacred  to  the 
Goddess  Athene. 

"Brave  Voyagers !  I  am  old  and  it  may  be  that  I  look  too  far  ahead, 
over  too  broad  and  vast  a  field  for  possible  disaster.  This  looking  far 
ahead  is  one  of  the  many  signs  that  I  am  old.  Yes,  it  may  be  that  if  young 
dauntless  adventurers  listen  too  attentively  to  the  warnings  of  the  old, 
it  might  curb  many  valiant  deeds  of  noble  heroism.  Athenians,  I  have 
only  spoken  in  harmony  with  the  feeling  of  preventing  disaster,  as  it 
dwells  in  an  old  man; 

"One  who  would  feel  sad,  if  the  sea  should  erase 
The  Noble  Four  Hundred  from  off  the  world's  face." 

King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  stepped 
back  and  resumed  his  seat.  His  speech  was  listened  to  'midst  deep 
silence  with  great  reverence;  loud  applause  following. 

Prince  Gyphodus  arose  again  and  said:  "Adventurous  Athenian 
Four  Hundred!  The  advice  and  warning  you  have  listened  to  is  the 
advice  of  a  friend — advice  and  warning  from  one  who  delights  in  the 
renown  of  your  famous  city  of  Athens.  (Great  applause.)  One  of  my 
age  cannot  be  a  man  of  experience,  but  even  I,  upon  listening  to  the 
voyage  you  are  to  undertake  to  far  distant  unknown  seas,  cannot  help 
but  think  and  feel  that  your  voyage  is  a  very  adventurous  one.  Brave 
Athenian  Four  Hundred!  Wherever  you  may  sail,  it  is  our  prayer: 
'May  the  gods  return  you  all  to  your  native  shores  again.'  (Applause 
by  Spartans. 

"Brave  Athenians!  Upon  this  day  which  is  adorned  by  your  pres 
ence,  my  thoughts  (as  I  know  do  the  thoughts  of  my  fellow  Spartans) 
revert  to  the  Siege  of  Troy,  in  which  the  Athenian  contingent  took  such 
a  heroic  part.  The  question  has  often  been  discussed  to  and  fro,  end 
lessly  among  our  Spartans,  as  to  who  caused  and  who  was  the  fault 
of  the  war — a  man  or  a  woman;  Paris  or  Helen? 

"Another  question  also  never  rests:    Whose  fault  was  it  that  the 


162  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

destruction  of  Troy  was  not  accomplished  many  moons  sooner— 1 
memnon's  or  Achilles'? 

"Long  and  earnest  orations  have  been  held  by  the  adherents  of  the 
different  sides,  and  both  seem  to  be  determined  not  to  walk  away  from 
their  point  of  view,  and  to  look  at  the  question  from  different  direc 
tions.  And  the  result?  No  acceptable  answer  for  all. 

"On  these  two  questions  it  is  well  understood  among  us  Spartans 
that  during  our  debates,  no  orator  shall  speak  longer  than  the  turn  of 
two  sand  glasses.  I  do  not  wish  to  bring  these  questions  up  for  discus 
sion;  no,  no.  Time  is  too  limited,  but  I  only  wish  to  say  that  if 
noble  Sophon,  in  his  address,  would  also  include  and  relate  the  heroism 
of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  war,  as  related  to  you  by  your  noble 
Athenian  forefathers,  we  Spartans  will  never  tire  of  listening.  It  is 
always  pleasant  for  us  Spartans  to  remember  that  Menelaus,  King  of 
our  Sparta,  rightful  husband  of  the  fair  Helen,  was  one  of  the  heroes 
secreted  in  the  large  wooden  horse  which  proved  itself  to  be  a  key,  as 
it  were,  to  the  principal  gate  of  the  walls  of  Troy,  and  which  made  the 
Fall  of  Troy  possible. 

"Daring,  heroic  Four  Hundred  of  Athens !  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium, 
by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  requests  me  to  say  that  it  would  be  a 
great  pleasure  to  him  and  the  Spartan  people  if  you  would  extend  your 
stay  several  days  longer  and  that  the  key  of  the  city's  gates  will  be 
delivered  in  your  possession  during  your  stay,  thus  indicating  our  un 
bounded  confidence  and  friendship.  We  all  hope  that  this  auspicious 
day's  festival  will  be  a  festival  of  joy  for  all  our  Athenian  friends. 
The  sun  will  set  upon  this  day's  festival  as  it  sets  upon  all  human 
events ;  but  may  the  pleasureable  remembrances  of  this  joyful  Athenian- 
Spartan  festal  day  never  set,  but  be  a  source  of  joy,  pleasure  and 
friendship  until  the  sun  sets  to  our  eyes  forever." 

Prince  Gyphodus,  'midst  great  applause,  after  a  short  pause,  intro 
duced  Sophon  to  the  Spartan  populace  'mid  endless  Spartan  cheering 
and  the  striking  of  their  shields. 

Sophon  said:  "King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of 
Sparta,  Gracious  Queen,  Noble  Prince  Gyphodus,  and  brave,  valiant 
Spartans !  Friends !  In  the  name  of  the  Four  Hundred  Athenian  voy 
agers:  We  thank  you  all  for  your  friendly  reception  and  the  many 
words  of  praise  spoken.  (Great  applause  by  voyagers  and  Spartans.) 

"Noble,  Invincible,  Dreadnought,  Brave  Spartans!  This  roar  of  ap 
plause  sounds  to  me  like  an  echo  of  the  past,  as  an  echo  of  the  mingled 
shouts  of  our  heroic  Spartan  and  Athenian  forefathers,  before  the  walls 
of  Troy  (great  applause)  ;  as  an  echo  passed  down  from  generation  to 
generation  up  to  this  day,  resounding  with  a  new  energy  at  this,  our 
Spartan-Athenian  festival.  (Great  applause.) 

"The  sound  of  your  voices,  brave  Spartans,  is  sweet  and  a  delight  to 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  163 

mine  ears;  sweeter  than  the  Siren's  charming  songs  could  ever  be;  as 
the  Spartan  shouts  and  cheers  were  a  delight  to  the  ears  of  our  Athen 
ian  forefathers  on  the  battle  fields  of  Troy. 

"I  hardly  know  how  to  address  you,  as  noble  Spartans  or  as  noble 
Grecians.  You  are  both ;  but  I  shall  address  you  as  brave  Spartans ; 
for  the  special  endurance,  strength  and  valor  of  the  Spartan  as  taught 
to  all  youths  and  maidens  throughout  Greece,  is  admired  and  praised 
even  far  beyond  the  borders  of  our  beloved  Greece.  Mine  eyes  are 
pleased  to  behold  the  strong,  stalwart,  valiant  Spartans.  Valiant  Spar 
tans!  First  I  shall  explain  the  building  of  our  great  ship  and  its 
mission.  It  is  only  to  you,  valiant  Spartans,  that  we  divulge  our  ship's 
mission ;  our  forefathers  having  fought  side  by  side  in  battle  for  a  com 
mon  cause.  Your  offering  of  the  keys  of  the  city  is  also  proof  of 
unbroken  confidence  and  friendship.  An  experienced  Phoenician  mer 
chant  seafarer  who  was  ostracised  for  an  offense  against  the  King  of 
Tyre  sojourned  for  several  moons  in  Athens.  On  request  of  our  most 
noted  philosophers,  he  held  a  lengthy  address  on  the  value  of  commerce, 
ending  with : 

A  nation,  to  be  grand, 
Must  rule  on  sea  and  land. 

"And  also:  'The  ship  bringeth  abundance  from  afar.' 
"All  Athenians  were  highly  enthused  with  the  value  of  commerce 
Jn  ships,  such  as  those  of  the  Phoenicians.  Athenian  enthusiasm  ran 
to  such  heights  that  it  was  determined  to  build  one  wonder  ship,  which 
was  accomplished  by  the  high  pitch  of  enthusiasm  furnished  by  our 
bards,  philosophers  and  poets  and  the  willing,  untiring  hands  of  thou 
sands  of  earnest  maidens,  women,  youths  and  strong  men.  The  builder, 
upon  being  asked  how  the  great  task  was  accomplished,  answered,  'By 
the  favor  and  aid  of  the  Gods.'  Never  again  will  it  be  possible  to  secure 
such  united  enthusiasm  and  willingness  of  thousands — united  with  the 
favor  and  aid  of  the  gods,  to  build  another  ship  even  half  as  large  as 
the  Aeolus.  Our  mission  is  one  of  peace,  Commerce;  not  combat. 

"The  question  of  taking  maiden  voyagers  along  was  discussed  to 
and  fro  until  it  was  decided  that  maidens  could,  in  equal  number  to  the 
young  men,  accompany  the  adventure.  The  condition  was  that  only 
such  of  our  Athenian  maidens  would  be  acepted  who  were  of  noble 
birth  and  who  could  pass  what  we  called,  in  Athens,  the  Spartan  Ex 
amination.  All  our  noble  maidens  of  Athens  are  given  what  we  call  a 
Spartan  training,  including  athletics,  riding,  swimming,  running,  row 
ing,  archery,  and  so  on;  all  men  and  maidens  being  required  to  remain 
out  of  doors  for  at  least  the  greater  part  of  a  day.  It  is  understood 
that  the  men  are  out  of  doors  the  whole  day  and  part  of  the  nights 
also.  All  of  our  young  men  and  maidens  the  ship  could  not  take.  So 
such  whose  standing  was  the  highest  were  selected. 


164  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"I  have  been  informed  by  the  Committee  on  Commerce  that  they 
have  exchanged  a  large  number  of  articles  with  your  Spartan  traders 
to  the  profit  and  benefit  of  Spartans  and  Athenians.  Thus,  already  is 
illustrated  the  value  of  commerce. 

"Our  mission  is  to  sail  westward  as  far  as  the  Pillars  of  Hercules 
possibly.  That  is  said  to  be  the  limit  of  the  Phoenician  traders.  Our 
next  landing  place,  it  is  intended,  shall  be  on  the  coast  of  Elis  near 
Pylos,  native  city  of  Nestor,  of  sacred  memory,  who  was  the  aged  coun 
sellor  in  the  Trojan  war.  From  thence  we  will  sail  westward  from  the 
shores  of  Greece  to  unknown  lands  of  unknown  tongues.  And  as  to 
unknown  tongues,  we  have  Theognis,  the  interpreter  of  gesture  lan 
guage.  He  can  understand  what  people  say  by  the  motion  of  their 
bodies,  eyes,  hands,  legs,  feet,  head,  mouth,  nose,  etc.  We  must  take 
his  words  as  being  the  words  of  those  whose  language  is  strange  to  us. 
Theognis  is  one  of  us. 

"It  is  true,  as  has  been  remarked  by  your  noble  King  Gythio  of 
Gythium  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  that  at  the  destruction  of 
Troy,  a  prince  of  the  House  of  Priam,  with  a  number  of  Trojans,  es 
caped  in  the  darkness  and  confusion  of  the  night  in  ships  and  set  sail 
westward  bound. 

"The  experienced  Phoenician  merchant  of  Tyre  warned  us  not  to 
sail  near  or  in  sight  of  the  new  city  named  Rome,  which  the  Phoenician 
merchant  ships  had  found  to  be  very  aggressive.  The  merchant  sea 
farer  from  Tyre  said  it  was  the  general  saying  among  Phoenician  sea 
farers  that  the  city  named  Rome  was  founded  by  a  descendant  of  the 
Trojan  Prince  named  Aeneas  and  his  Trojan  followers  who  had  set  sail 
westward  bound  upon  their  escape  on  the  destruction  of  Troy  by  the 
Greeks.  Our  ship  will  not  sail  in  the  direction  in  which  that  city  is  said 
to  lie. 

"At  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  if  we  should  sail  that  far,  we  will  return 
on  our  homeward  voyage  and  shall,  if  the  fates  allow,  land  here  again, 
(ijoud  applause.) 

"Prince  Gyphodus  has  kindly  intimated  that  our  Spartan  friends 
would  be  pleased  if  I  should  relate  the  events  of  the  Trojan  war,  The 
Siege  of  Troy,  as  related  to  us  Athenians  by  our  fathers.  When  two 
friends  meet  who  live  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other,  conversation 
naturally  will  turn  on  matters  in  which  they  are  both  interested,  in 
which  they  or  their  forefathers  have  taken  an  honorable  active  part. 
We  know,  if  our  heroic  Spartan  and  Athenian  forefathers,  who  fought 
side  by  side  in  the  Trojan  war,  could  be  here  this  day,  they  would 
greet  each  other  with  embraces  and  kisses  with  eyes  bedewed  with 
tears  of  joy.  They  would  converse  with  deep  feeling  of  the  heroic  days 
of  the  past,  of  the  events  of  the  war  in  all  its  minutest  details.  They 
would  again  vividly  recall  encouraging  words  spoken  by  brave,  suffer- 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  165 

ing,  dying  comrades ;  recall  the  shout,  the  charge,  the  clash  and  clamor 
of  the  blood-stained  battle  fields  strewn  with  the  maimed  and  dying  foe 
and  friend.  They  would  in  silence  recall  the  many  thousands  hastily 
dug,  wide,  sod-covered  sepulchres,  the  last  resting  place,  far  from  home, 
of  their  brave  comrades  who  consecrated  their  lives  to  the  glory  of 
Sparta — to  the  glory  of  Greece.  (Deafening  applause.)  They  would 
recall  the  heroic  scenes  when  the  principal  chiefs  and  commanders  of 
each  side  would  at  various  times  challenge  each  other  to  single  combat 
on  the  field  between  the  armies.  How  every  sinew,  every  nerve  of  every 
comrade  was  tensioned  to  its  utmost  upon  beholding  the  God-like  war 
riors  stepping  forth  singly  out  upon  the  field,  from  among  the  long 
arrayed  armies,  to  meet  each  other  midway  between  the  armies,  first 
shaking  hands,  then  stepping  back  a  few  paces — when  the  conflict 
began,  whole  armies  looking  on !  How  each  side  shouted  encouragingly, 
and  when  the  vanquished  fell,  how,  in  silence,  he  was  carried  back  to 
his  army;  how  the  victor,  retiring  to  his  ranks,  carrying  the  shield, 
weapon  and  helmet  of  the  vanquished,  was  greeted  with  uproarious, 
endless  shouts  and  cheering  by  his  warrior  army!  How  the  armies 
would  charge  in  battle,  all  along  the  line,  or  how  the  victors  would  hold 
a  feast  of  revelry  and  joy ;  the  vanquished,  a  funeral  feast  of  sorrow ! 

"Yes,  if  our  heroic  Spartans  and  Athenian  forefathers  could  meet 
here  this  day,  their  recollections  of  the  scenes  and  brave  deeds  at  Troy 
would  make  them  for  the  time  being,  strong  and  young  again;  with 
elastic  step,  eager  for  the  conflict  as  in  the  days  when  they  stood  in  the 
flush  of  manhood  in  battle  array. 

"There  is  no  friendship  so  earnest  and  deep,  no  feeling  of  brother 
hood  so  strong,  as  exists  between  brave  warriors — warriors  who  fought 
side  by  side  against  a  common  foe  for  a  noble  cause  under  the  hail  of 
deadly  javelins,  lances,  stones,  war  clubs,  swords,  flinted  arrows,  in 
hand-to-hand  combats,  or  charging  the  catapults.  The  friendships 
formed  in  feasts,  luxurious  ease  and  sports  are  as  nothing  compared  to 
the  friendship  formed  between  warriors  on  the  bloody,  deadly  fields  of 
battle.  The  feelings  of  joy,  of  sorrow,  of  hope,  of  fear,  despair,  of  de 
feat,  of  victory,  fell  and  rose  in  their  hearts  in  unison,  like  the  ebb  and 
flow  of  the  ocean,  all  eager  for  one  great  cause ;  creating  a  grand  broth 
erhood — lasting,  enduring.  Their  shouts  of  victory  rang  out  in  one  glad 
chorus.  They  laughed,  cried,  were  sad,  glad,  suffered,  feasted  and 
joyed  together.  Such  warrior  friendship  or  comradeship  thus  formed 
between  the  Grecian  contingents  in  the  famous  Trojan  war,  between  our 
brave  Spartan  and  Athenian  forefathers  does  not  only  form  a  lifelong 
bond  of  friendship  between  comrades,  but  endures  and  passes  from 
generation  to  generation. 

"Such  is  the  friendship  between  us  brave  Spartans  and  Athenians 
this  day.  A  friendship  which  we  have  inherited  has  passed  down  to 


166  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

us  through  generations  from  our  heroic  ancestors  who  fought  side  by 
side  in  the  battlefields  of  distant  Troy. 

And  when  we  are  dead  and  gone 
May  that  friendship  still  live  on 
Forever!  (Great  applause.) 

"Friends  are  we,  a  friendship  inherited  from  our  heroic  forefathers. 
Your  Gods  are  our  Gods;  your  pride,  our  pride.  The  same  blue-eyed 
Goddess  Minerva  counselled  our  forefathers  in  the  Siege  of  Troy.  So 
we  can  talk  of  an  event  of  mutual  interest  to  which  we  can  point,  and 
rehearse  with  mutual  pride.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  to  relate  the  brave, 
heroic  deeds  of  our  forefathers  and  pass  them  on  to  future,  unending 
generations.  (Applause.)  And  it  is  for  us  and  all  future  Grecians  to 
emulate  their  brave  deeds  in  words  and  actions.  Yes,  whenever  occa 
sion  demands,  we  Athenians  and  Spartans  will  fight  side  by  side  for 
victory  against  a  common  enemy,  in  a  manner  worthy  of  their  descend 
ants.  (Great  applause.) 

"And  now,  as  your  noble  Prince  Gyphodus  has  suggested,  I  shall 
attempt  to  rehearse  the  principal  events  of  the  Grseco-Trojan  war,  the 
Fall  of  Troy  (of  Ilion)  as  passed  down  to  us  over  three  generations 
from  our  illustrious  Athenian  forefathers.  (Great  applause  with  strik 
ing  of  shields,  decorated  lances  and  feather-ornamented  arrows  flying 
in  the  air.) 

"In  the  spirit  of  that  greatest  of  all  wars  and  in  the  name  of  our 
warrior  Spartan  and  Athenian  forefathers,  I  address  you  as  comrades. 
(Great  applause.)  We  all  know  that  the  God-gifted  Homer  has  gath 
ered  and  related  the  greatest  number  of  events  of  that  greatest  of  wars, 
over  all  other  historians  and  bards.  But  to  each  contingent  of  that 
war  were  known  many  deeds  of  valor  unknown,  undiscovered  even  by 
Homer.  So  I  shall  rehearse  the  story  of  The  Fall  of  Troy  (Ilion)  as 
handed  down  to  us  from  our  own  heroic  Athenian  forefathers.  If  ever 
there  is  a  place  more  fitting  for  the  rehearsal  of  the  story  of  the  Fall 
of  Troy,  that  place  is  here — here  in  beautiful,  hollow  Lacedaemon.  It  is 
here  from  Spartan  Lacedaemon,  here  from  your  shores  from  which  fair 
Helen  eloped  or  was  carried  away  in  one  of  a  number  of  ships,  by  the 
handsome  appearing  Paris,  prince  of  the  house  of  King  Priam,  son  of 
Queen  Hecuba  of  Troy.  But  I  must  proceed.  I  must  admit  I  hardly 
know  where  to  begin  and  where  to  end.  For  our  Captain  Arteus  has 
just  sent  a  message  saying  that  in  no  case  can  the  Aeolus  delay  longer 
than  the  time  allotted,  so  that  our  ship  may  sail  forth  on  the  wings  of 
the  coming  morning. 

"So  it  will  be  possible  only  to  rehearse  the  principal  events  of  that 
great  conflict.  If  I  had  known  that  I  would  be  asked  to  relate  the 
story  of  the  Fall  of  Ilion,  I  would  have  refreshed  my  memory  by  gath 
ering  such  accounts  as  are  known  by  my  fellow  Athenian  voyagers. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  167 

"Each  of  us,  in  our  youth,  upon  every  seventh  day  following  the 
seventh  full  moon,  were  questioned  as  to  our  knowledge  of  the  Fall  of 
Ilion.  Being  required  to  recall  to  memory  the  history  of  that  war  of 
wars,  I  can  not  proceed  with  my  accustomed  speed.  One  of  our  Grecian 
bards  at  Athens  said  that  history  is  a  spirit  language  of  past  centuries, 
talking  of  events  of  the  past,  emphasizing  such  events  as  it  considers 
among  the  most  important  and  preserving  them  to  generations  without 
end. 

"And  so  the  principal  events  in  the  Siege  of  Troy  will  pass  In  review 
before  our  mind's  eyes  this  day.  Now,  comrades,  I  will  begin : 

"Paris,  Prince  of  the  house  of  King  Priam  of  Troy,  noted  for  beauty 
and  strength,  was  upon  a  certain  occasion,  selected  as  judge  to  decide 
who  could  claim  the  apple  belonging  to  the  most  beautiful:  Hera, 
Athene  or  Aphrodite.  Paris  decided  on  Aphrodite  (Venus),  who,  in 
return,  promised  through  her  powers  as  a  Goddess,  to  lead  him  to  find 
and  secure  the  most  beautiful  woman  of  the  world,  as  his  wife.  Paris 
Bailed  forth  from  Troy  in  several  ships  westward,  until  he  arrived  at 
these  shores,  near  which  our  ship  Aeolus  now  lies — the  rainbow  flags  of 
which  we  can  see  from  here. 

"Aphrodite  (Venus)  invisibly  led  Paris  to  visit  your  grand  Spartan 
King,  Menelaus.  Beautiful  Helen,  wife  of  King  Menelaus,  had  had 
many  princely  and  kingly  suitors.  The  suitors  all  admired  and  loved 
her  dearly,  each  one  of  whom  were  willing  to  die  for  her  welfare,  as 
events  proved.  The  princely  and  kingly  suitors  agreed  that  Helen 
should  be  allowed,  unmolested,  to  choose  her  husband  from  among  her 
numerous  suitors.  They  were  honorable  men. 

"Helen's  choice  fell  upon  your  valiant  Prince  Menelaus  for  her  hus 
band.  (Great  applause.) 

"Many  of  these  noble  suitors  were  present  at  the  wedding  feast ;  and 
they  agreed  and  insisted  that  in  the  marriage  ceremony,  the  high  priest 
should  state:  'Whoever  hath,  or  harbors  reasons  why  Menelaus  and 
Helen  should  not  become  man  and  wife,  let  him  come  forth  now — or 
forever  hold  his  peace.'  The  suitors  were  honorable  men. 

"Not  only  this,  but  they  made  a  compact  by  which  they  bound  them 
selves  that  at  any  time,  should  King  Menelaus  be  disturbed  in  the 
possession  of  his  beautiful  wife,  they  would  as  one  man,  join  in  battle 
for  King  Menelaus'  rights.  They  were  honorable  men. 

"Their  love  and  admiration  for  Helen  was  coupled  with  a  respect 
and  a  truly  deep,  earnest  desire,  hope  and  wish  that  Helen  should  enjoy 
true  happiness  with  whatever  husband  she  might  choose.  They  were 
honorable  men. 

"Helen  stood  so  high  in  the  admiration,  respect  and  love  of  the 
suitors  that  none  of  them  would  allow  themselves  or  any  one  else  to 
stand  in  the  way  of  Helen  and  her  chosen  Menelaus.  Although  they  had 


168  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

all  loved  her  dearly  and  the  hope  of  finding  favor  in  her  eyes  had  often, 
like  the  flow  and  ebb  of  the  ocean,  again  and  again,  risen  and  fallen  in 
their  breasts,  they  submitted  to  her  decision,  all  agreeing  that  she  was 
worthy  of  the  fullest  happiness  the  world  can  give  to  a  beautiful 
woman,  mated  to  one  of  her  own  choice — to  her,  the  man  of  men. 
(Great  applause.) 

"Such  was  the  noble  love  of  the  princely  and  kingly  suitors — a  love 
that  was  above  and  beyond  the  common  understanding. 

"And  the  event  proved  that  their  exalted  love  and  admiration  were 
not  in  words  only,  but  in  deeds  of  heroism.  They  were  honorable  men. 

"At  the  time  of  Paris'  landing  here,  Menelaus  had  become  King  of 
your  Sparta.  Paris  was  invited  to  partake  of  the  hospitality  of  Mene- 
laus's  castle  at  Sparta  as  a  guest.  Feasts  were  instituted  in  his  honor 
and  he  was  royally  entertained.  Paris  was  a  brother  of  Hector — most 
brave  and  powerful  of  the  valiant  Trojans.  During  Menelaus'  absence, 
Paris,  with  the  aid  of  the  Goddess  Aphrodite  (Venus)  succeeded  in  en 
ticing  Helen  to  sail  in  one  of  his  ships  from  these  shores  to  his  native 
Troy  to  become  his  wife.  'Tis  said : 

Paris  was,  in  faultless  form  and  haughty  grace, 
The  loveliest  youth  of  all  the  Trojan  race. 

"The  kingly  house  of  Troy  greatly  valued  and  admired  sparkling 
jewels;  and  it  was  by  his  display  and  offering  of  such  jewels  and  the 
glowing  description  Paris  gave  of  the  city  of  Troy  and  its  wonderful 
palaces,  that  aided  him,  assisted  by  the  favor  of  Aphrodite,  to  move 
the  fair  Helen  to  allow  herself  half-assenting,  half-hesitating,  to  be 
driven  in  a  chariot  from  Sparta  to  these  strands  and  to  be  carried  away 
on  Paris's  ship. 

"Paris's  ship,  on  reaching  the  open  sea,  after  sailing  over  two  thou 
sand  stadia  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  arrived  at  the  Trojan  shores 
at  Troy  (Ilion).  The  castle  of  King  Menelaus  also  harbored  jewels, 
but  your  Spartan  King  did  not  value  jewels  as  highly  as  a  sound  mind 
in  a  sound  body.  That  was  the  Spartan  ideal  of  the  most  desirable  of 
all  jewels;  such  which  Hygeia  had  favored,  with  teeth  as  white  as 
pearl,  with  eyes  noble,  haughty,  sparkling,  hair  heavy,  silken-tressed. 
These  were  the  jewels,  living  jewels,  which  your  Spartans  strove  to 
bring  and  have  brought  to  the  highest  point  of  excellence  and  perfection 
of  strength,  nobility  and  beauty,  of  which  Helen  herself  stood  forth 
as  the  most  beautiful  jewel  of  Spartan  culture  and  strenuous  bodily 
training. 

"To  find  and  secure  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  the  world, 
Prince  Paris  had  to  come  to  your  Spartan  shores.  (Great  applause.) 

"Upon  King  Menelaus'  return,  no  time  was  lost  to  herald  far  and 
wide  the  news  that  Paris  had  carried  away  the  beautiful  Spartan 
Queen  Helen  to  his  native  city,  Troy. 


The  Ship  Lauds  at  Gythium  169 

"And  right  here,  as  an  answer  to  the  question  which  noble  Prince 
Gyphodus  says  has  never  been  agreed  upon  by  you  Spartans,  as  to  who 
caused,  or  through  whose  fault,  the  Grseco-Trojan  war  was  called  into 
being — a  man's  or  a  woman's  fault?  I  would  answer  4a  man's  fault.' 
For  if  Paris  had  not  landed  on  these  shores  in  search  of  the  most 
beautiful  woman  in  the  world,  there  would  have  been  no  war.  The 
applause  here  was  strengthened  by  all  the  women  joining  in  the  same. 

"One  of  the  Spartans,  who  seemingly  belonged  to  those  who  contended 
that  the  war  had  been  caused  through  the  fault  of  a  woman,  spoke  up 
in  a  clear,  strong  voice :  'Noble  Athenian !  Allow  me.  Helen  had  taken 
an  oath  that  she  would  be  true  to  Menelaus  for  life.  She  broke  her 
oath.  Paris  was  not  bound  to  an  oath ;  so  it  seems  clear  to  me  that  a 
woman  was  the  fault  of  the  war.'  (Slight  applause.) 

"Sophon  continued :  'It  seems  that  that  question  can  never  be  agreed 
upon  by  fair-minded  men.' 

"But  as  for  me,  I  shall  hereafter  call  that  war:  The  Trojan-Grseco 
War,  instead  of  the  Grseco-Trojan  War,  because  it  was  started  by  the 
dishonorable  act  of  a  Trojan — Paris — a  man.  (Renewed  applause.) 

"All  of  the  kings  and  princes  who  had  formed  a  compact  and  agreed 
to  assist  Menelaus  in  upholding  his  rights  as  to  his  fair  wife  Helen, 
were  notified  of  the  act  of  the  base  deceiver,  Paris.  All  the  great  kings 
and  chiefs  came  forward  with  large  contingents  of  men  and  ships.  O, 
would  that  I  could  name  each  one  of  the  many  thousands  of  brave 
warriors  who  fought  and  those  who  fought  and  died  for  your  brave 
King  Menelaus'  cause. 

"Our  bard  and  philosopher  at  Athens,  who  taught  us  the  story  of  the 
Fall  of  Troy,  once  said  that  it  was  too  bad  that  we  could  not  know  the 
names  of  each  one  of  the  brave  warriors  who  fought  at  Troy.  Only  the 
principal  chiefs  were  named  to  history  and  the  thousands  who  bled  and 
died  for  Menelaus'  cause  were  barely  named  by  numbers. 

"But  it  occurs  to  me  that  it  could  have  been  answered  that  all  of 
the  many  thousands,  besides  bearing  their  own  proud  names  of  Boeotia, 
Aspledon,  Phocis,  Locriis,  Euboea,  Athens,  Salamis,  Argos,  Mycenae, 
Corinth,  Pylos,  Myrmidon,  Aulis,  Arcadia,  Elis,  Ithaca,  Aetolian,  Argos, 
Thessaly,  Achaia,  Lemnos,  Oechlia  and  many  other  proud  names  of 
their  immediate  country,  they  all  bore  one  name  that  is  honored,  re 
spected  and  feared  far  beyond  the  boundaries  of  our  own  common  land, 
namely:  they  all  bore  the  noble  name  'Grecian.'  (Applause.)  The  individ 
ual  names  which  I  can  recall  can  necessarily  only  be  a  few  from  among 
a  multitude  of  men.  And  of  the  many  thousands  of  incidents  and  oc 
currences  which  have  taken  place  in  that  war,  many  will  be  overlooked. 
But  I  shall  begin,  as  well  as  my  memory  can,  to  name  the  great  chiefs 
that  ruled  the  various  contingents,  singly  and  combined,  which  I  have 
just  before  named.  First,  the  two  brave  sons  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon 


170  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  Menelaus.  (Great  applause.)  Next,  Diomed,  the  son  of  Tydeus, 
and  with  him,  Sthenelus,  Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  a  wise  counsellor  of 
experience  who  had  outlived  three  generations  of  men.  Ulysses,  wise 
and  brave,  son  of  Laeretes  from  Ithaca,  Thoas,  the  Aetolian,  Idome- 
neus,  King  of  Crete,  Tlepolemus,  son  of  Hercules,  Eumelus  from  Thes- 
saly,  Menestheus  of  our  own  Attic  Athens  (great  applause)  ;  and  lastly, 
but  not  least,  the  most  valiant  of  all,  the  God-like  Achilles,  and  with 
him,  Patroclus.  (Great  applause.)  And  then  let  us  at  least  also  call  to 
mind,  Ajax,  the  fearless.  (Applause.) 

We  can't  expect  that  any  one  brain, 
All  those  heroes  can  contain — 
Those  who  fought  on  Troy's  wide  plain ; 
Although  I  can  not  name  them  all, 
History  doth  their  names  recall 
On  hardest  marble! 

"All  the  Grecian  states  sent  large  contingents  of  warriors  in  the 
cause  of  Menelaus  from  their  shores  in  ships,  varying  in  number  from 
four  to  one  hundred  ships  from  a  state.  The  various  Greek  contingents 
numbered  a  hundred  thousand  warriors  and  eleven  hundred  and  four 
score  and  six  ships.  Rocky  Aulis,  in  Euboea  was  their  gathering  place. 
Here  Menelaus  and  his  elder  brother,  the  great  Agamemnon,  visited  all 
the  chiefs,  recognized  their  bravery  and  assistance  and  agreed  upon  a 
united  plan  of  action.  In  harmony  with  the  order  of  natural  selection, 
Agamemnon,  King  of  Mycenae  and  Argos,  was  chosen  commander  in 
chief  of  the  united  Greek  contingents.  From  Aulis,  the  ships  sailed 
down  the  bay,  out  into  the  sea  and  crossed  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
over  to  Troy.  Troy  was  the  capital  of  Troas  in  Asia  and  was  situated 
near  Mt.  Ida,  not  far  from  the  sea;  so  there  was  a  plain  between  the 
walls  of  Troy  and  the  sea. 

The  names  of  the  Trojan  leaders — I  know  them  not  so  well — 


Until  such  time  as  they  again  fair  Helen  could  restore, 

Back  to  your  own  King  Menelaus — to  this,  your  Spartan  shore. 

(Applause.) 

"Noble  Spartans,  we  all  know  from  the  history  which  has  come 
down  to  us,  that  among  the  Trojans,  there  were  not  as  many  heroes  as 
among  our  Greeks,  and  the  most  valiant  Trojans  were  not  equal  in  arms 
to  those  of  our  Greeks.  The  Trojan  heroes  who  are  worthy  of  renown 
and  who  I  can  at  present  call,  are  Antenor,  who  at  least,  was  the  wisest 
of  the  Trojans,  Corebus,  Glaucus,  Memnon,  Pindarus,  a  skillful  archer, 
Sarpedon,  Anchises;  Acestes,  and  the  sons  of  King  Priam;  Paris 
Polites,  Diphobus,  Helenus,  Troilus  and  Prince  Hector,  the  strongest  and 
bravest  of  Trojans.  Paris,  at  times,  stood  forth ;  but  not  as  often  as 
one  of  such  athletic,  beautiful,  strong,  shapely  form  should  have  done; 
*  Hades. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  171 

especially  as  he  was  the  real,  first  cause  of  the  war.  Paris  was  looked 
down  upon  and  despised,  not  so  much  for  inducing  Helen  to  elope  and 
become  his  wife,  but  it  was  for  his  cowardice  in  keeping  aloof  from  the 
field  of  battle  as  much  as  possible.  Whenever  he  did  join  the  conflict, 
it  was  through  Hector  reminding  him  of  his  cowardice.  His  heart  was 
out  of  harmony  with  his  strong,  noble  appearance.  When  fully  arrayed 
with  helmet,  shield  and  lance,  he  stood  forth  as  a  God  of  War,  but  he 
had  not  the  heart  of  a  true  warrior. 

"Thus  have  I  named,  as  best  my  memory  can,  the  principal  Grecian 
and  Trojan  heroes  of  that  war  of  wars.  But  two  more  Grecian  heroes 
come  to  mind — they  proved  themselves  to  be  equal  to  many  men,  two 
brothers,  Podalirius  and  Machaon.  They  were  divine  surgeons,  pro 
fessors  of  the  healing  art.  They  not  only  healed  many  wounded,  so  that 
they  could  return  to  the  field  of  battle  again,  but  curbed  a  pestilence 
that  would  have  devastated  the  whole  army.  Machaon  also,  praise  to 
him  to  this  day,  it  was  who,  when  your  brave  Menelaus  lay  dangerously 
wounded  by  a  poisoned  arrow,  aimed  by  the  great  Trojan  archer,  Pan- 
darus,  cured  and  fully  restored  him  to  battle  with  his  accustomed  vigor 
on  many  a  well  fought  field. 

"But,  as  I  must  hasten,  the  Greek  contingent  arrived  at  the  Trojan 
shores,  formed  in  battle  array,  sent  a  messenger  to  King  Priam,  de 
manding  the  surrender  of  Helen  within  a  certain  time,  or  they  would 
proceed  immediately  to  storm  the  city's  walls.  The  messenger  returned 
with  King  Priam's  answer  contained  in  a  sealed  scroll.  The  messenger 
appeared  before  King  Agamemnon,  who  was  standing  in  his  chariot  in 
the  center  of  the  long  array  of  warriors.  The  King  asked  the  messen 
ger  to  unseal  the  scroll  and  immediately  read  King  Priam's  answer 
aloud. 

"The  answer  read  as  follows :  'Proud  defiant  Grecians !  Coming  to 
our  distant  shores  in  long  battle  array,  we  can  not  call  you  friends.  My 
answer  to  your  demand  for  the  return  of  Helen  is  also  the  answer  of 
every  Trojan  worthy  of  the  name.  Great  Agamemnon,  my  answer  to 
your  message  is: 

"'Wealth  can  not  buy  her! 
Force  can  not  take  her !' "    Signed  Priam. 

"Upon  the  warriors  being  informed  of  Priam's  reply,  loud  shouts  of 
defiance  moved  through  the  long  line  of  warriors.  Every  spear,  dart, 
stone,  sword  thirsted  to  drink  the  blood  of  the  Trojans.  The  great  war 
with  varying  success  lasted  nine  years,  which  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
ended  in  the  complete  destruction  of  Troy  and  the  victor's  return  with 
the  Fair  Helen  to  the  Spartan  shores,  after  which  Menelaus  and  his 
Queen,  Helen,  lived  in  peace  and  happiness  to  the  end  of  their  days. 

"In  haste  I  would  add  the  Trojan  war  lasted  nine  years,  but  It 
would  have  come  to  a  successful  close  much  sooner  if  a  quarrel  between 


172  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

the  principal  chiefs,  Agamemnon  and  Achilles,  had  not  taken  place. 
Briseis,  a  beautiful  maiden  captive,  was  taken  from  Achilles  by  Aga 
memnon,  his  superior  in  command.  Therefore,  Achilles  skulked  in  his 
tent  and  with  his  valiant  myrmidons  remained  aloof  from  battle. 
Achilles  later  again  joined  the  Greeks  against  Troy,  killed  Hector  and 
dragged  his  body  behind  his  chariot  to  the  Greek  camp  in  sight  of  the 
Trojans,  including  Andromache  standing  on  the  walls.  Andromache 
fainted  at  the  sight. 

"Great  honors  Ilium  to  her  hero  paid, 
And  peaceful  slept  the  mighty  Hector's  shade." 

"We  will  remember  that  Achilles'  body  was  invulnerable  excepting 
his  one  heel.  This  the  Goddess  Aphrodite  (Venus)  made  known  to 
Paris.  Paris,  with  the  horse  hair  of  his  helmet  nodding  as  he  strode, 
suddenly  stood  still  and  awaited  Achilles.  On  Achilles'  advance,  Paris, 
with  his  bow  strung  to  its  utmost,  aimed  deliberately  and  pierced 
Achilles'  heel  with  a  deadly  arrow,  from  which  Achilles  died.  Upon 
his  death  becoming  known — how  the  Grecian  camp  did  mourn!  Paris 
was  killed  by  Philoctetes,  a  skilled  archer. 

"The  Trojan  war  still  waged  on.  At  last  stratagem  was  resorted  to. 
Sinon  had  successfully  succeeded  in  passing  into  the  Trojan  walls, 
claiming  that  he  had  deserted  from  the  Greek  army,  in  which : 

The  cunning,  feigning  Sinon 

Played  his  part  so  well 
The  Trojans  could  but  wish  him 

In  deepest,  darkest  h * 

"A  large  wooden  horse  was  built  and  in  the  night  hauled  near  to  one 
of  the  city's  gates.  Ulysses  was  one  of  its  originators. 

Ulysses,  that  resourceful  man, 
Well  'tis  known,  was  born  to  plan. 

"Six  Grecian  warriors,  well  armed,  were  hidden  in  the  belly  of  the 
monster  horse,  including  Ulysses  and  also  your  brave  Spartan  Meiie- 
laus.  (Great  applause.)  On  the  morning,  the  Trojans  discussed  what 
to  do  with  the  horse. 

"Cassandra,  from  the  walls  on  high, 

Beheld  the  horse  with  tearful  eye. 

She  spoke: 

'That  horse,  that  reaches  high  in  air, 

For  Troy's  good,  'tis  not  placed  there; 

O  touch  it  not,  beware !    beware !' 

Alas!   Whate'er  Cassandra  said, 
Was  like  speaking  to  the  dead." 

"Some  thought  that  to  treat  the  horse  roughly  might  call  down  the 
*  Hades. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  173 

vengeance  of  the  gods  and  said,  'Don't  act  too  rashly.'    But  from  among 
the  crowd,  Laocoon  rushed  and  said: 

"O  wretched  countrymen!"  he  cries, 
What  monstrous  madness  blinds  your  eyes? 
Think  you  your  enemies  removed? 
What'er  it  be,  a  Greek,  I  fear, 
Though  presents  in  his  hands  he  bear. 
He  spoke ;  and  with  arms  full  force, 
Straight  at  the  belly  of  the  horse 
His  mighty  spear  he  cast." 

But  the  fate  that  o'ertook  Laccoon 
It  followed,  oh,  so  soon,  so  soon ; 
He  and  his  two  bright  boys  must  die 
By  serpents,  groaning  to  the  sky. 

"Toward  evening  the  Trojans  decided  to  pull  the  monster  horse 
through  the  gate,  inside  the  walls.  At  midnight,  Sinon,  who  had 
feigned  he  was  a  Grecian  deserter,  unlocked  the  opening  of  the  horse; 
the  Grecian  warriors  issued  forth,  killed  the  warders  at  the  gate,  and 
upon  a  light  signal,  Agamemnon  and  the  whole  Grecian  army  rushed 
in  and  the  fall  and  ruin  of  Troy  became  complete. 

"Ten  years  of  fighting  could  prevail, 
Nor  navies  of  a  thousand  sail." 

The  wooden  horse — great  strategy 
Secured  for  Greece  its  victory. 

"And  in  closing,  I  may  say : 

Thus  sank  proud  Troy  in  ashy-dust, 

With  all  its  wealth  and  glory — 
But  let  us  Grecians  all  be  just — 

Forever  'twill  live  in  story ! 

"Brave  Spartans !  As  necessity  demands,  I  have  rehearsed  the  story 
of  the  Fall  of  Troy  in  a  very  condensed  form,  as  taught  to  us  at 
Athens.  Valiant  Spartans!  Our  Committee  on  Commerce  presents 
these  two  beautiful  vases  to  his  majesty,  King  Gythio  of  Gythium,  by 
virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta.  This  vase,  which  I  hold  in  my  hands  has, 
in  artistic  workmanship,  illustrated  on  its  side  the  figure  of  Menelaus 
and  Hector  in  combat  over  the  body  of  Euphorbus. 

"The  other  vase  displays  the  figure  of  Menelaus  assisted  by  Meri- 
ones  and  the  Ajaces  fighting  against  the  Trojans  to  obtain  the  body  of 
Patroclus,  which  they  bravely  succeeded  in  doing.  Upon  beholding  the 
vases,  long  after  we  have  sailed  from  your  fair  shores,  we  hope  they 
will  recall  pleasant  memories  of  the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  who  are 
here  this  day  in  beautiful  Lacedaemon. 

"King  Gythio  arose  and  said:  'Valiant  Four  Hundred!  These 
exquisitely  fashioned  vases  presented  to  me,  I  accept  with  deep- 


174  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

felt  thanks.  They  will  not  only  be  a  pleasure  to  the  eye,  but  their  sight 
will  speak  of  the  brave  deeds  of  our  Athenian  and  Spartan  ancestors 
and  also  of  the  very  agreeable  visit  of  our  noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens'  friends  on  this  day.'  (Great  applause.) 

"Sophon  replied:  'Valiant  King  Gythio  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of 
the  King  of  Sparta!  The  kind  appreciation  of  the  gift  is  a  great 
pleasure  to  the  giver.  As  to  gifts — since  our  forefathers  placed  a  mon 
strous  wooden  horse  before  the  gates  of  Troy  and  captured  the  city 
thereby,  the  saying :  "Beware  of  the  gift-bearing  Greeks,"  is  known  be 
yond  the  borders  of  our  Grecian  land.  But  a  gift  from  Greek  to  Greek, 
as  presented  this  day,  is  different.  In  our  youth,  at  Athens,  we  have 
heard  said  of  a  gift : 

"  'Tis  not  the  value  of  a  gift  that  binds  true  hearts  together; 
'Tis  not  the  weight  of  gold  always — it  may  be  light  as  feather ; 
But  it  must  have  that,  though  in  words  'tis  seldom  spoken, 
Must  come  from  true  and  noble  hearts  to  be  a  heartfelt  token. 
The  simplest  flower,  from  heart  to  heart,  great  wealth  may  never 

equal, 
Especially  so  a  lover's  gift,  with  wedlock  as  a  sequel." 

"As  to  the  gift  which  we  presented  this  day,  we  might  intimate : 

"  'Tis  not  the  value  of  the  vase  which  we  to  you  have  given, 
It  is  not  made  of  weighty  gold,  or  of  white  silver  even, 
But  is  a  piece  of  Attic's  soil,  to  us  the  dearest  ever, 
Where'er  we  sail,  where'er  we  roam,  forget  it,  we  can  never ; 
Made  of  the  finest  Attic  clay,  with  thoughts  of  Grecian  glory, 
Portraying  skillfully  the  deeds  of  Trojan — Grecian  story." 

(Applause. ) 

"Valiant  Spartans!  Your  gracious,  noble  Queen  has  complimented 
us  highly,  saying: 

"Your  men  are  more  handsome  than  Paris  of  Troy, 
Your  maidens,  more  charming  than  Helen,  his  joy." 

"As  to  'Helen,  his  joy,'  it  was  not  of  long  duration.  If  we  are  en 
titled  to  that  compliment,  surely  it  was  achieved  through  your  Spartan 
teachings,  which  were  made  known  to  our  Athenian  ancestors  over 
three  generations  ago  by  a  philosopher  who  had  sojourned  in  your 
lovely  Lacedaemon,  as  Homer  calls  your  land,  to  us  better  known  as 
Laconia  or  Sparta. 

"Our  Athenian  philosopher  who  was  an  authority  on  art,  especially 
sculpture,  concluded  an  address  which  he  held  on  art,  by  saying  in  sub 
stance  :  'Although  the  ennobling,  elevating  study  of  art  should  certainly 
never  receive  less,  but  more  and  more  encouragement,  so  that  every 
citizen  of  Athens  would  become  acquainted  with  its  fundamental  prin 
ciples  and  find  delight  and  pride  in  maintaining  Athens  as  the  home  of 
Art,  as  well  as  of  Oratory  and  Philosophy,'  he  nevertheless  did  not  fail 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  175 

to  observe,  during  his  sojourn  in  your  land,  a  teaching  which  struck 
him  as  being  highly  important  to  a  state,  as  it  aimed  at  improving  the 
excellencies  of  the  human  race — its  men  and  women. 

"Your  Spartan  teaching  and  training  brought  the  thought  to  him : 
'Which  is  the  most  important  to  a  state,  a  beautiful  statue,  representing 
a  model  man  or  woman,  made  of  fine  Parian  marble  stone,  or  the  living 
form  divine  of  blood,  flesh,  bone?'  He  observed  that  your  Sparta  had 
given  that  matter  deep,  profound  thought  and  study,  followed  by  teach 
ing  and  training,  to  secure  and  maintain  the  human  form  divine,  men 
and  women,  to  the  highest  possible  strength  and  perfection.  Your 
motto  being:  'A  healthy  mind  in  a  healthy  body.'  He  pictured  your 
Spartan  as  leading  an  ideal  life;  not  giving  great  attention  to  orna 
ments  or  enervating  comforts,  unworried  by  many  of  the  unnecessaries 
of  life;  but  living  a  simple  life,  such  as  advocated  by  many  noted 
philosophers.  He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Spartan  courage  was  the 
result  of  strong,  healthy  bodies  with  fearless  souls.  He  said  that  the 
Spartans  would  never  have  handed  earth  and  water  to  a  foreign  foe,  as 
a  sign  of  submission,  as  did  another  Greek  state.  The  Spartans,  to  a 
man,  would  have  chosen  death  first.  (Great  applause.) 

"He  said  that  all  the  beautiful  things  in  nature,  as  well  as  our 
Athenian  art,  can  not  be  fully  appreciated  by  the  weakly  and  sick.  The 
faculties  of  genuine  appreciation  are  benumbed  in  proportion  to  an  in 
dividual's  weakness.  The  philosopher  said  he  could  not  but  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  your  Spartan  teachings  should  really  be  the  first  above 
and  beyond  all  other  teachings.  Up  to  that  time,  no  special  attention 
had  been  given  in  Athens,  as  is  the  case  still  in  all  other  lands,  to  the 
laws  in  regard  to  mating,  and  to  the  training  of  its  youth  and  citizens 
with  a  view  towards  improving  our  Athenian  race.  In  all  other  lands 
such  matters  as  a  state  giving  thought  to  the  improvement  of  its  race 
were  unknown,  and  they  were  left,  without  restraint  to  chance,  un 
mindful  of  results. 

"Our  venerated  Athenian  ancestors,  who  were  always  ready  to  set 
aside  error  and  adopt  truth  in  its  place,  recognized  your  Spartan  teach 
ings  as  the  most  exalted  and  sacred  of  all  teachings,  achieving  for  man 
kind  the  most  valuable  results.  Since  that  time  forward  Athens  adopt 
ed  your  laws  of  mating  and  training,  and  we  are  pleased  in  justice  to 
say  that  if  the  compliment  so  generously  bestowed  upon  us  by  your 
worthy,  noble  Queen  is  well  taken — if  we  stand  forth  as  samples,  models, 
of  perfect  manhood  and  womanhood,  the  credit  in  first  order,  is  due  to 
Sparta.  (Great  applause.) 

"At  times,  your  Spartan  marriage  laws  cause  much  heartache,  but 
only  temporarily  in  comparison  with  such  cases  where  the  laws  are 
disregarded,  resulting  in  sickly  offspring  who  live  a  life  of  suffering, 
aches  and  fear;  causing  constant  fear  and  anxiety  to  their  parents. 


176  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"To  show  you  how  strictly  your  Spartan  system  is  observed  by  our 
nobility  in  Athens,  I  will  relate  a  case  that  came  to  pass  some  moons 
since.  One  of  our  lovely  Athenian  maidens  of  noble,  healthy  parents, 
and  a  prince  of  one  of  our  near  by  states  were  deeply  in  love  with  each 
other.  They  applied  at  the  Athenian  health  office  for  a  marriage  right. 
He,  also,  was  from  an  honored,  worthy  family,  and  there  was  no  objec 
tion,  but  rather  it  was  the  wish  and  hope  of  their  parents  that  the 
young  people  should  join  in  wedlock.  Indeed  all  Athens  was  pleased 
with  the  intended  alliance. 

"The  health  officers,  in  looking  over  the  records  of  the  maiden's 
birth  and  training,  saw  that  she  belonged  to  the  nobility;  that  she 
could  dive,  swim,  spin,  hurl  the  discus,  spear,  in  short,  was  able  to  pass 
through  all  athletic  games  with  strength,  dexterity  and  grace.  In  addi 
tion  thereto,  she  was  found  perfectly  healthy.  After  passing  through 
her  examination,  she  stepped  forth  smiling. 

"The  health  officer,  after  examining  the  Prince,  asked  him  in  regard 
to  his  birth  and  training  records ;  but  he  said  that  his  country  required 
none  such.  He  was  asked  whether  he  could  swim  and  dive,  how 
far  he  could  hurl  the  spear,  and  so  on.  In  regard  to  all  feats, 
such  as  your  Spartan  training  requires,  he  was  questioned.  To  most  of 
the  questions,  he  replied  'no.'  He  was  asked  to  hold  out  a  certain 
weight.  Upon  trying,  it  was  seen  that  he  could  not  hold  it  out  for  any 
length  of  time.  The  maiden  had  easily  held  it  out  for  an  extended 
length  of  time.  He  was  asked  to  run  up  to  a  certain  point  on  the  Acrop 
olis  and  return  to  the  health  officer  in  the  shortest  possible  time.  Upon 
his  return,  it  was  noticed  that  he  could  not  run  the  full  distance  back, 
but  that  he  walked  with  a  panting  breath. 

"Upon  examination,  it  was  found  that  the  moderate  distance  was 
more  than  he  could  run,  without  showing  the  feeble  condition  of  his 
heart  and  whole  system.  The  health  officer  asked  him  to  name  the 
ages  of  his  parents,  who  were  still  young,  and  also  the  ages  at  which 
his  grand  and  great  grand  parents  had  died.  His  reply  showed  that 
they  had  all  died  comparatively  very  young.  After  a  prolonged  deliber 
ation,  the  health  officer  informed  him  that  the  so-named  Spartan  laws 
of  Athens  would  not  allow  him  to  issue  a  right  to  him  to  join  in  mar 
riage  with  any  of  the  noble  maidens  of  Athens. 

"He  stepped  forth  from  the  health  office  a  very  sad  young  man  In 
deed.  Rejoining  his  loved  maiden,  he  could  not  speak  to  her,  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  as  a  man.  While  expressing  her  deep  sor 
row,  she  knew  from  the  Spartan  teachings,  that  it  was  best  for  her,  best 
for  him  and  best  for  Athens  that  they  should  not  join  in  wedlock,  but 
allow  time  to  gradually  soothe  their  wounded  hearts  with  the  belief 
that  the  Spartan  teachings  should  be  looked  upon  as  a  blessing  to  all 
who  observe  and  obey  them.  The  young  prince  threatened  to  kill  him- 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  177 

self,  which  only  exposed  and  emphasized  his  weakness  of  body,  heart 
and  mind.  The  noble  maiden  reasoned  wisely  in  allowing  time  to  soothe 
her  heart. 

"It  was  greatly  regretted  by  the  citizens  of  Athens  that  the  alliance 
could  not  take  place.  Although  sad,  they  knew  that  the  health  officer, 
regardless  of  the  Prince's  station,  had  done  his  duty  as  becometh  an 
Athenian.  (Great  applause.) 

"Many  Athenians  said  'twere  well  that  the  alliance  was  not  allowed 
and  that  the  greatest  efforts  should  not  be  spared  in  upholding  the 
Spartan  standard  for  a  noble,  stalwart  race.  (Great  applause.) 

"Our  nobles,  they  said,  must  be  strong,  because  it  is  from  among 
them  that  we  select  our  rulers.  And  rulers  should  be  strong  so  as  to 
receive  recognition,  acknowledgment  and  also  so  as  to  be  able  to  bear 
the  great  cares  and  weight  of  state,  easily,  ably  and  nobly.  A  strong, 
brave,  fearless,  stalwart  ruler  is  a  bulwark  and  an  ornament  to  a  state. 
Athenians  oftentimes  called  attention  to  the  blessings  of  your  Spartan 
System  in  after  years,  results  having  proved  its  worth  and  wisdom. 

"Before  landing  here,  we  were  wondering  whether  our  Athenian 
lecturers  and  philosophers  had  held  up  to  us  an  imaginary  Spartan 
system  as  an  ideal  for  us  to  strive  after  or  emulate;  claiming,  as  they 
often  did,  that  even  striving  after  an  imaginary  ideal,  was  ennobling ;  a 
good  ideal  leading  to  good  results — even  if  the  ideal  had  no  existence 
in  fact.  But  when  we  arrived  upon  your  shores,  we,  at  first  glance,  saw 
that  the  Spartan  race  is  in  every  respect  all  and  even  more  than  our 
lecturers  claimed. 

"It  may  not  have  been  noticed  by  you,  but,  Valiant  Spartans,  you 
have  been  under  critical  eyes  and  not  found  wanting.  (Applause.) 

"Sophon,  turning  toward  the  King,  said:  'King  Gythio  of  Gythium, 
by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  being  on  Spartan  ground,  it  would 
please  us  Athenians  to  hear  one  of  your  health  officers  explain  In  brief, 
the  duties  which  his  position  impose  upon  him/ 

"Hereupon  the  King  asked  Prince  Gyphodus  to  call  one  of  the  health 
officers.  Hygieontos,  tall,  stalwart,  handsome,  stepped  forward  and 
said: 

"  'Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred !  You  say  we  have  been  under 
critical  eyes,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  you  have  also  been  under  scru 
tiny.  The  duties  of  a  Spartan  health  officer  makes  of  him  a  constant 
habitual  critic.  He  can  not  look  upon  any  person  without  settling  and 
grading  the  degree  of  health  he  possesses.  To  us  health  officers,  the 
word  "living"  means  persons  who  are  in  perfect  health.  All  others  live 
only  in  part.  A  person  who  can  not  hear  is  not  fully  alive — is  not  living 
fully.  A  person  may  even  be  in  the  possesion  of  all  his  senses 
and  faculties,  but  if  he  is  weak  and  below  our  Spartan  standard  of 
health,  he  lives  only  a  fractional  part  of  life. 


178  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"  'In  looking  at  a  person,  we  health  officers,  almost  unconsciously, 
grade  individuals  as  seven-eighths  living,  six-eighths  living,  five-eighths 
living,  four-eighths  living,  three-eighths  living  or  perfect — fully  living. 

"  'Persons  graded  below  six-eighths  living  are  called  sick  persons.  All 
persons  who  are  graded  below  seven-eighths  are  not  up  to  our  Spartan 
standard  of  health.  Of  course  sudden  illness  may  come  over  the  strong 
est,  if  the  gods  so  will  it.  Our  health  gradings  refer  to  the  average 
standard  of  health  possessed.  All  healthy  beings  are  permeated  with  a 
feeling  of  happiness,  the  very  blood  running  through  their  veins  seems 
exhilarating.  But  in  the  sickly  and  weak,  real  happiness  is  banished  ID 
proportion  to  the  degree  of  ailments. 

"  'As  to  sickness,  "prevention  is  the  best  cure."  And  It  is  not  neces 
sary  to  say  to  you  that  our  Spartan  laws  of  mating  and  strenuous 
training  are  the  most  effective  means  of  prevention.  On  the  battle 
fields  of  Troy,  it  was  noticed  by  the  other  Greek  contingents  that  our 
heroic  ancestors  were  not  affected,  even  by  pestilence,  sent  by  the  gods, 
who  were  friendly  to  the  Trojans.  The  secret  lay  in  our  strenuous 
Spartan  laws  of  health.  Luxurious  ease  and  comfort  enervates  and 
enfeebles  a  nation.  We  and  our  brave  ancestors  for  centuries  have 
been  taught  that  sickness  is  a  crime — a  sin. 

"  'I  may  say  to  you,  noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  that  sickness  is 
held  in  such  odium  with  us  that  each  individual  does  his  utmost  to 
prevent  it. 

"  'A  true  Spartan  will  not  talk  of  his  troubles,  and  Is  careful  not  to 
make  his  ailments  known,  unless  in  dire  need.  For  no  pity  will  he  find, 
but  rather  will  he  be  told  "That  serves  you  just  right."  Pity  encour 
ages  complaints.  Rebuke,  on  the  other  hand,  sometimes  even  cures 
and  turns  a  weakling  into  a  man.  That  two-thirds  of  all  human  sick 
nesses  and  ailments  are  a  crime  is  accepted  as  a  truth  by  all  Spartan 
health  officers.  If  not  a  crime  of  the  person  himself,  then  it  has  passed 
down  from  the  second,  third  or  fourth  generation.  Therefore,  it  re 
quires  generations  of  right  mating  and  training  to  secure  the  highest 
human  excellencies — "a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body."  In  a  humorous 
mood,  we  Spartans  say:  "Every  person  ought  to  be  particular  in  the 
selection  of  his  parents,  even  back  to  the  fourth  generation."  Alone 
a  man  comes  into  the  world  and  singly  he  passes  away.  Between  his 
coming  and  his  going,  he  must  fight  the  battle  of  life — a  strenuous 
battle,  where  the  weak  are  at  a  great  disadvantage  with  the  strong. 
The  gods  frown  on  and  mortal  man  despises  sickliness  and  weakness. 

"  'When  a  state  is  in  danger  of  attack  from  an  outside  foe,  it  is  the 
strong  who  must  defend  it.  And  so  in  all  conquests  and  triumphs  it  is 
the  strong  to  whom  credit  must  be  given,  who  bear  the  brunt  of  battle. 
Therefore  are  the  strong  honored  and  admired— the  most  wise  and 
daring  chosen  to  positions  as  rulers  of  men.  For  such  is  tbe  necessary 
imperative  natural  order  of  selection. 


The  Shif)  Lands  at  Gythium  179 

"  'When  it  happens  that  a  weakling,  through  the  aid  of  some  god, 
accomplishes  something — vanquishes  some  hero,  the  world  wonders. 
Such  wondering,  in  itself,  indicates  the  wisdom  of  choosing  the  strong 
as  rulers.  We  were  taught  that  a  state  is  composed  of  a  less  or  greater 
number  of  men.  Every  man  being  strong  and  courageous  makes  a  state 
strong.  As  with  individuals,  so  with  a  state ;  the  strong  may  demand ; 
the  weak  must  submit.  Thus  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  our  Spar 
tan  system  is  strong  warriors;  which  means  the  courageous,  valiant, 
daring,  leading  to  victory  in  battle,  and  when  peace  is  desired  the  strong 
can  demand  it,  preserve  and  establish  it. 

"  'Our  health  officers'  duties  I  shall  now  explain  In  short :  At  a 
child's  birth,  it  is  the  health  officer  who  at  times  must  decide  whether 
it  is  to  live  or  not  to  live.  If  it  is  deformed  so  that  the  future  would 
find  it  helpless  and  a  calamity  unto  itself,  the  officer's  duty  is  plain. 

"  'From  the  first  to  the  seventh  day,  the  lives  of  the  children  are  In 
the  hands  of  the  health  officers.  After  that  time,  the  life  of  a  child  is 
secure  against  further  interference  on  the  part  of  the  health  officer.  It 
is  not  the  number  of  offspring  in  particular.  Quality  is,  above  all,  of 
importance  to  a  state.  It  is  not  always  the  weight  of  the  newly  born 
offspring  that  tells  of  its  size,  strength  or  courage  as  a  future  warrior, 
oh,  no! 

"  'After  the  first  two  examinations,  all  citizens  are  examined  by  the 
health  officers  in  their  seventh  year,  fourteenth  year,  twenty-first,  and 
so  on,  every  seventh  year  undergoing  an  examination  until  death.  Ad 
vice  and  warning,  if  necessary,  are  given  at  each  examination.  It  is  the 
pride  of  every  Spartan  youth,  maid,  man  and  woman  if  the  health  offi 
cer  certifies  that  they  have  lived  correctly,  are  well  preserved,  and  so 
on. 

"  'These  examinations  through  life  also  inform  the  state  as  to  its  full 
number  of  able  warriors.  When  young  men  and  maidens  become  of  age, 
we  do  not  object  to  Aphrodite  (Venus)  sending  her  son  Eros  (Cupid) 
as  her  messenger  to  mingle  among  them,  to  inflame  their  hearts  to  love. 
We  worship  Aphrodite  (Venus)  the  beautiful  Goddess  born  in  the  foam 
of  the  sea,  and  we  welcome  her  winged  messenger  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year.  We  hold  a  feast  with  prayer  and  the  burning  of  Incense  in  the 
honor  of  Aphrodite  (Venus)  every  seventh  moon.  Here,  in  Sparta, 
Aphrodite's  little  winged  messenger  seems  to  be  the  most  active  with 
his  bow  and  arrows  in  the  spring  and  fall  times  of  the  year.  It  must 
have  been  so  in  brave  Odysseus'  time.  Odysseus,  the  wise  Ithacan,  the 
sailor  of  sailors,  who  so  greatly  honored  your  Athenian  Four  Hundred 
by  condescending  to  answer  your  question  from  the  shades  below,  as  to 
the  most  favorable  time  your  wonderful  ship  should  sail  upon  Its  Jour 
ney.  His  answer,  was  in  part,  I  was  told,  "In  the  spring  time  of  the 
year,  when  all  nature  sighs  for  love.  'Twas  ever  thus."  But  we  know 


180  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

from  experience  and  observation  that  Venus'  chubby  winged  messenger 
of  love  armed  with  quiver,  bow  and  arrows,  doth  not  always  aim  his 
darts  with  forethought  and  discretion.  In  his  great  eagerness  and  zeal 
to  serve,  he  seems  at  times,  to  see  as  with  the  eyes  of  an  owl,  only  the 
immediate  present,  but  is  totally  blind  as  to  the  even  near  future.  He  is 
of  a  highly  impassionate  and  impulsive  nature,  and  his  darts  are  often 
aimed  through  impulse,  rather  than  by  reason  and  forethought,  which 
should  be  a  complement  of  love.  Cupid,  at  times,  seems  so  engrossed  in 
his  mission  of  inspiring  hearts  with  love,  as  to  become  reckless  in  regard 
to  future  results. 

He  who  looks  only  the  length  of  his  nose, 
How  may  it  end,  do  you  suppose? 

"  'I  am  only  dilating  on  exceptional  cases ;  for  to  his  great  credit  be 
It  said,  the  majority  of  his  well  directed  arrows  result  in  healthy  off 
spring,  the  greatest  happiness  the  human  family  knows  of.  In  many 
cases,  the  love-laden  messenger's  darts  have  a  more  or  less  blinding  ef 
fect.  Therefore,  we  Spartans  say  "love  is  blind."  And  because  at  times 
its  blindness  would  lead  to  undesirable  results  to  our  state — sickly, 
weakly  citizens — health  officers  are  appointed,  the  result  of  which  is 
well  known  to  you  Athenians — a  nation  of  stalwart,  strong,  brave,  un 
conquerable  hero  warriors,  whose  beautiful,  stately,  healthy  women  are 
in  every  way  worthy  of  their  warrior's  infatuation  and  worship.' 
(Great  applause.) 

"Our  Nestorius,  from  among  our  crowd  asked:  'Would  stalwart 
Hygeiontos  tell  us  the  name  of  the  great  philosopher  who  first  sug 
gested  and  planned  your  strenuous  Spartan  health  system?' 

"Hygeiontos  said:  'I  may  first  add  that  Aphrodite  (Venus)  with 
her  son  Eros  (Cupid)  and  the  fair  Goddess  Hygeia  are  the  principal 
goddesses  to  the  health  officers,  to  each  of  which  we  offer  special  sacri 
fice  and  prayer.  As  to  the  Goddess  of  Love,  I  may  say: 

Venus,  Fair!    Goddess  above 
Sends  her  messenger  of  love, 
Winging  through  the  ambient  air ; 
'Mongst  young  men  and  maidens  fair. 
Chubby  Cupid  with  his  darts 
Stirs  young  men's  and  maiden's  hearts. 
But  the  hearts,  they  do  not  bleed — 
Not  to  injure,  he  takes  heed; 
Only  warms  them  up,  you  know, 
So,  with  love,  they  are  aglow. 
Cupid's  arrow,  in  its  flight, 
Lends  to  all  a  rosy  light — 
Spreads  a  halo,  wondrous  fair, 
Round  each  charming,  loving  pair. 
Love-beladen  from  his  bow 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  181 

On  their  flight  the  arrows  go, 

And  how  happy  is  each  heart 

That  is  pierced  by  Cupid's  dart! 

All  of  such — they  dwell  in  bliss — 

Seal  their  vows  oft  with  a  kiss. 

In  the  moon's  bright  silvery  ray 

Oft  his  pranks  he  loves  to  play. 

Silently  an  arrow  flies 

Through  the  dark'ning  evening  skies; 

Oft  'tis  then  that  vows  are  spoken 

Which,  through  life,  are  never  broken. 

Nothing  sweeter  in  this  world 
Than  to  have  an  arrow  hurled 
From  fair  Cupid's  little  bow, 
Setting  loving  hearts  aglow, 
Sights  and  sounds  are  charming  more 
Than  they  ever  were  before; 
Love  to  mortal  man  was  given 
As  a  foretaste  of  sweet  heaven. 
O  what  would  our  lives  all  be 
If  fair  Cupid,  O,  should  flee, 
Never  to  return  again? 
Earth  would  be  a  dismal  plain, 
Hate  would  stare  and  stalk  around, 
Joy  no  more  on  earth  be  found. 
Love,  that  Venus,  man  hath  given, 
Turns  our  earth  into  a  heaven! 
Love — it  makes  the  heavens  shine 
With  a  sacredness  divine. 
Makes  all  things  more  radiant,  fair, 
All,  all  things,  on  sea,  earth,  air. 
Endless,  O,  is  Love's  great  power, 
Therefore  also  at  this  hour 
Come  and  let  sweet  incense  rise 
From  the  tripod  to  the  skies. 

"Hereupon,  the  Spartan  priest  of  Hygeia  lit  the  incense  at  his  side 
and  said: 

"(Aphrodite) 

Venus,  foam-born  of  the  sea! 
We  revere  and  worship  Thee ; 
Worship  Thee,  with  mind  and  heart, 
Thank  Thee  for  thy  loving  part 
Thou,  as  Goddess,  man  hast  given, 
Making  of  our  earth  a  heaven; 
High  above  the  clouds,  Thy  seat, 
Where  the  Olympian  Gods  do  meet, 
May  the  incense  burning  now 
Circle  round  Thy  radiant  brow; 
Its  perfume — O  may  it  be 
Sweetest  odor  unto  Thee! 


182  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

To  Thy  Son,  we  also  pray, 

Welcome  Him  by  night,  by  day, 

For  the  happiness  he  spreads 

'Mongst  young  loving  hearts  and  heads, 

With  his  arrows,  great  delight 

Doth  he  spread  by  day,  by  night. 

As  by  magic,  does  each  dart 

Change  to  happiness  each  heart, 

That  for  want  of  love's  warm  ray 

Sadly  mourns  or  pines  away. 

Welcome,  Venus!   Cupid  ever! 

May  you  leave  us  mortals,  never. 

Thus  Athenians,  Spartans  pray 

With  our  thanks,  this  festal  day." 

"After  the  Spartan  priest's  invocation,  Hygeiontos  resumed  and  said : 
'Fair  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  We  Spartan  health  officers  must  also 
have  an  acquaintance  with  the  past,  in  regard  to  matters  pertaining  to 
our  sacred  duties.  Your  noble  Athenian's  question  as  to  the  name  of  the 
philosopher  who  first  suggested  our  strenuous  Spartan  system  of  health, 
I  must  answer  in  brief:  We  are  told,  many  generations  ago  a  large 
number  of  Asians,  Arabian  horsemen,  warriors  rode  far  away  from  their 
native  homes,  passing  north  of  our  country,  on  conquest  and  plunder. 
One  of  the  Arabian  horsemen  became  separated  from  his  comrades  and 
crossed  within  our  Spartan  boundary.  His  horse  was  transferred  to  a 
Spartan  chief.  It  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  the  Arabian  horse  was 
in  all  respects  so  far  superior  to  the  common  breed  of  horses,  as  to 
command  general  wonder  and  admiration. 

"'At  first  it  was  thought  that  it  was  even  to  the  Arabians  an  ex 
ceptionally  beautiful  horse.  But  the  Arabian  horseman,  who  himself 
was  only  an  ordinary  nomad,  said  that  the  horse  had  no  exceptional  ex 
cellencies  over  other  Arabian  horses;  that  in  Arabia,  the  horses  were 
all  as  beautiful  as  that  one,  and  some  were  still  even  more  beautiful. 
He  said  that  any  breed  of  horses  can  be  improved  by  long  years  of  in 
telligent  breeding. 

"  'Arabs  value  their  horses  almost  above  themselves.  Being  nomads, 
making  raids  into  foreign  lands,  strong,  fleet,  spirited  steeds  are  to 
them  often  life  itself.  The  Arab's  greatest  pride  is  his  horse. 

"  'Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred !  It  is  further  said  that  one  of  the 
Spartan  philosophers  who  was  bodily  weak  and  consumed  his  time  by 
musing  on  all  possible  and  impossible  theories,  one  beautiful  spring 
morning,  called  on  the  king,  saying  as  he  approached,  "Eureka !  Eureka ! 
Eureka !" 

"  'The  king,  who  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  philosopher,  replied : 
"Well,  if  you  have  found  it,  and  it  is  of  great  value,  it  belongs  to  me, 
you  know;  whatever  it  may  be." 

"  'Yes,  yes !'  replied  the  philosopher,  'if  your  majesty  accepts  it,  it 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  183 

will  redound  to  the  greatness  and  glory  of  your  kingly  house  and  of 
your  Spartan  kingdom;  yes,  it  will  even,  in  a  greater  degree,  redound 
to  the  glory  of  the  thrones  of  your  son's  sons'  sons.  Beyond  all  wealth — 
beyond  all  castles,  is  that  which  I  have  to  offer  to  you.  Is  a  horse 
above  man?'  he  asked. 

"The  king  replied :  'No ;  the  rider  generally  sits  on  top  of  the  horse.' 

"  'Excuse  me,  your  majesty,'  the  philosopher  is  said  to  have  replied. 
'I  did  not  begin  right.' 

"  'It  seems,'  said  the  King,  'you  haven't  begun  at  all.' 

"  'Now  let  me  explain,'  said  the  philosopher,  'all  I  said  is  the  truth.' 

"'The  truth  of  what?'  asked  the  king. 

"  'Excuse  me,  your  majesty,'  said  the  philosopher,  'I  see  I  can  not, 
in  a  few  words  say  what  I  have  to  say.  It  is  of  great  importance — very 
— of  great  importance  to  your  throne.' 

"  'That's  what  you  claimed  before,'  said  the  king. 

"  'A  great  thought  was  given  to  me  by  the  Gods,'  said  the  philoso 
pher. 

"The  King  is  said  to  have  replied :  'It  seems  too  great — greater  than 
a  human  brain  can  stand.' 

"  'Your  majesty,'  replied  the  philosopher,  'I  have  come  this  early  to 
relate  a  dream.' 

"'I  thought  so,'  replied  the  King. 

"The  philosopher  continued:  'I  will  now  try  to  explain.  In  my 
dream  I  could  see  plainly  over  mountain  and  seas,  in  far  off  Arabia, 
large  herds  of  beautiful  horses.  I  turned  in  all  directions  and  could  see 
over  the  whole  flat  world ;  but  no  land  had  as  fine  a  race  of  horses  as 
the  Arabs.  Looking  studiously  at  the  beautiful,  proud,  strong,  high- 
spirited  steeds,  there  resounded  in  my  ears  plainly  the  words :  "Breed 
ing!  breeding!  breeding!" 

"  'The  Arabian  vision  vanished  and  another  vision  appeared  to  my 
view.  A  soft  hand  seemed  to  pass  over  my  eyes,  so  as  to  open  them, 
and  I  saw  in  the  air,  close  before  me,  the  beautiful  Goddess  of  Health, 
Hygeia.  She  moved  away  a  distance,  always  facing  me,  and  using  her 
outstretched  hand  as  a  wand,  there  appeared  to  my  vision  here  in 
Sparta,  a  highly  improved  race  of  men  and  women — a  new,  stately, 
strong,  brave,  handsome,  beautiful  race  of  Spartan  men  and  women. 

"  'I  turned  in  all  directions  and  could  plainly  see  over  the  entire 
world;  but  no  nation  had  as  strong,  stalwart,  courageous  men  and 
women,  as  Sparta. 

"  'She  seemed  to  move  close  to  me,  pass  her  soft  hand  over  my  eyes, 
closing  them. 

"  'The  vision  vanished  and  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  only  the  same 
word  seemed  plainly  to  repeat  itself. 

"The  King  replied:  'I  see  we  have  no  time  to  listen  to  your  visions 


184  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

at  present.  We  are  now  going  on  the  chase  in  the  Valley  of  the  Eurotus 
and  perhaps  also  on  the  Taygetus  mountains  in  search  of  deer  and  wild 
boars.  You  can  accompany  us.  After  our  return,  I  decree  it  to  be  your 
duty  to  formulate  a  system  of  health  laws,  and  lay  them  before  me  at 
some  time  before  the  present  moon  has  rounded  its  orb.  Verily  it 
seems  to  me  your  thoughts  are  not  those  of  a  dreamer.' 

"Some  days  before  the  moon  had  rounded  its  orb,  early  on  a  morn 
ing,  the  philosopher  called  at  the  palace,  the  King  receiving  him  in  a 
spirit  of  earnestness,  ready  to  hear  and  give  his  whole  attention  to  the 
philosopher's  suggestions. 

"The  philosopher  greeted  the  King  with :  'May  your  majesty  have 
rested  well,'  proceeding,  he  said :  'Early  in  the  morning,  after  a  restful 
night's  sleep,  golden  thoughts  oft  come  to  man.  Thus,  with  my 
thoughts  still  fresh  in  mind,  have  I  called  on  your  majesty,  before  they 
may  evaporate  like  the  mists  before  the  rising  sun.  We  notice  many 
things  through  contrast.  Things  that  we  do  not  possess,  we  value  more 
than  do  those  who  possess  them. 

'*  'Your  majesty  knows  that  I  belong  to  the  bodily  weak.  I  am  not  a 
warrior.  No  one  admires  and  values  the  strong,  courageous  warrior 
more  than  do  the  weak.' 

"The  King  replied:     'You  mean  weak  in  body.' 

"  'Yes,'  said  the  philosopher.  'But  if  my  body  were  the  picture  of 
health,  my  mind  would  be  better  nourished  and  stronger  and  far  more 
able  in  body  and  in  mind  to  serve  your  state.  I  feel  that  the  Gods  have 
decreed  that  my  being  weak  shall  lead  to  Sparta  being  strong.  In  the 
vision  I  saw  a  new  race  of  Spartans,  stalwart,  strong,  haughty,  valiant 
men  and  women.  That  vision  does  not  belong  to  the  impossible  in  real 
life.  But  it  belongs  to  the  possible. 

"  'The  Arabians  looked  upon  it  as  a  crime  to  raise  inferior  horses. 
So  let  it  be  here,  in  Sparta,  in  regard  to  its  men  and  women.  Is  not 
the  human  race,  humanity,  of  greater  importance  than  are  horses? 
Your  Sparta,  as  in  all  other  nations,  has  among  its  large  number  of 
warriors,  only  a  few  real  stalwart  heroes.  If  the  laws  suggested  to  me 
by  the  fair  Goddess  Hygeia  become  Spartan  laws,  it  will  gradually 
develop  every  man  into  a  real  warrior.  Your  Spartan  army  will  be  an 
army  of  heroes,  invincible,  each  a  dreadnought,  unconquerable.  One 
such  warrior  can  in  a  battle,  with  spears,  stone,  sword,  war  club,  van 
quish  at  least  five  ordinary  warriors.' 

"The  King  replied  earnestly,  only  saying:  "Tis  well.     Proceed.' 

"  'The  laws  of  the  Gods  in  regard  to  health  read :  There  is  no 
betterment  without  punishment.'  Nature  is  willing  to  do  a  great  deal 
to  keep  us  healthy.  When  a  limb  is  broken,  Nature  herself  heals  it ;  and 
when  one  indulges  in  a  bacchanalian  feast,  she  tries  to  save  us  from  its 
evil  consequences.  But  only  for  a  time  is  she  able  to  help  us  by  at  first 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  185 

giving  us  repeated  warnings.  But  if  those  first  warnings  are  not 
heeded,  weakness,  sickness,  despair  and  pain  follow.  These  often  lead 
to  betterment.  But  at  what  a  sacrifice !  If  the  standard  of  our  Spartan 
race  is  to  be  raised,  laws  decreed  by  your  majesty  only  can  accomplish 
it.  At  present,  out  of  a  hundred  there  are  perhaps  only  twenty  who 
could  be  set  up  as  desirable  standards  for  Sparta. 

"But  through  laws  of  mating  and  strenuous  training,  the  order  would 
be  just  reversed;  a  general  high  standard  become  common,  the  lower 
standard  becoming  the  exception.  A  state  can  not  maintain  an  army 
of  real  matchless  warriors  unless  it  also  has  strong,  stalwart,  healthy 
mothers.  I  feel  confident  that  the  God  of  War,  Ares  (Mars)  is  favor 
able  to  Sparta  for  surely  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  the  laws  I  suggest 
is  to  obtain  an  army  of  valiant  soldiers — an  army  of  which  your 
majesty  and  the  God  of  War  would  be  proud.  Such  an  army  will  make 
the  name  of  Sparta  known  in  even  the  remotest  lands.' 

"The  King  said:  'I  will  have  one  of  our  sculptors  rear  a  beautiful 
marble  horse  as  an  enduring  reminder  of  its  having  given  us  the  idea 
to  formulate  state  laws  of  health.' 

"  'Allow  me,'  said  the  philosopher,  'some  of  your  subjects  might  feel 
as  if  they  were  held  in  some  respects  to  be  similar  to  animals  and 
would  feel  somewhat  slighted ;  although  there  is  much  truth  in  the  fact 
that  the  human  race  is  not  unlike  in  some  particulars.  Still  they  do 
not  want  to  be  told  so.  And  in  this  they  are  certainly  in  the  right, 
for  mankind  should  strive  after  high  ideals.' 

" '  'Tis  true,'  said  the  King,  'a  statue  of  purest  white  marble  repre 
senting  a  perfect  man  and  woman  would  serve  as  a  model  to  aspire 
after.  But,'  continued  the  King1,  'we  have  no  sculptor  in  Sparta,  nor 
will  there  ever  be  in  the  world  a  sculptor  who  can  chisel,  out  of  cold 
stone,  that  which  could  serve  the  purpose  intended.' 

''The  philosopher  replied :  '  'Tis  true,  the  laws  suggested,  if  decreed, 
will  result  in  developing  thousands  of  living  models  of  beautiful  men 
and  women,  which  would  serve  the  purpose  better  than  could  any 
statue  of  cold  stone.  Not  only/  said  the  philosopher,  'will  your  war 
riors  represent  an  army  of  stalwart  heroes,  but  each  warrior  will  be 
able  to  serve  his  country  longer.  The  improved  race  will  be  as  strong 
at  seventy,  as  the  warriors  now  are  at  fifty  years  of  age.  Thus 
your  army  will  contain  a  greater  number  of  warriors — increased  power 
for  Sparta.  For  let  me  emphasize:  "Weakness  or  sickness  is  similar 
to  old  age." ' 

"The  philosopher  said :  'As  the  pride  of  an  Arabian  is  his  horse,  so 
let  the  pride  of  a  Spartan  be  his  children,'  and  he  further  said:  'A 
stalwart,  powerful  body  and  a  powerful  mind  make  man  almost  equal 
to  a  God.' 

"After  the  King  and  the  philosopher  had  concluded  their  observa- 


186  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

tions,  the  King  decreed  that  the  health  laws  should  go  into  effect  im 
mediately  and  be  made  known  to  the  whole  Spartan  people.  He  said: 
'First  of  all  shall  the  state  health  laws  be  made  known  to  my  sons  and 
daughters,  so  as  to  prepare  them  to  honor  my  house  with  men  and 
women  of  stately  form,  courage,  strength,  nobleness  and  superior  ex 
cellencies  unto  descendants  yet  unborn.' 

"Upon  the  King's  decree  adopting  the  health  laws,  the  priest  was 
called,  incense  burned  with  prayer  and  thanks  unto  Hygiea,  Venus  and 
Ares  for  inspiring  a  Spartan  with  the  knowledge  of  rearing  a  race  of 
warriors  superior  to  those  of  all  other  lands. 

"The  philosopher  was,  on  this  occasion,  especially  honored,  the  King 
with  his  own  hands  crowning  him  with  a  wreath  of  myrtles.  The  phi 
losopher  was  from  thenceforth  named  and  known  as  Myrtlus.  * 

"What  a  great  blessing  this  inspiration  of  generations  ago  has  been ! 
It  is  doubly  visible  here  on  this  day — a  superior  race  of  Athenians  and 
Spartans.  Only  such  as  are  up  to  the  standard  of  our  Spartan  health 
laws  in  stature,  strength  and  health  are  allowed  to  have  children ;  that, 
in  short,  with  stated  examinations  and  strenuous  training  is  our  Spar 
tan  system  of  health. 

"Now,  Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  I  have  complied  with  noble 
Nestorious'  request  and  only  wish  to  add:  You  certainly  were  under 
critical  eyes,  for  each  one  of  us  health  officers  took  special  pains  to  dis 
cover  imperfections  in  you.  But  we  found  that  you  all  are,  according 
to  our  Spartan  standard,  entitled  to  be  called  perfect.  In  judging  you, 
we  noticed  in  particular :  Stature,  graceful  bearing,  elastic  step,  shapely 
rounded  limbs,  wealth  of  glossy  hair,  pearly  teeth,  ruby  lips,  clean  white 
glowing  skin,  noble  countenances,  sparkling  eyes — the  darters  of  thought 
and  flashlights  of  health — as  well  as  many  other  excellencies  too  numer 
ous  to  mention.  To  a  health  officer  you  are  a  feast  and  a  delight  to  the 
eyes. 

"And  to  hear  that  all  this  beauty  and  teeming  health  has  been 
achieved  through  following  for  over  three  generations  our  own  strenu 
ous  Spartan  laws  of  health,  is  as  music  to  our  ears.  We  hardly  wish 
to  utter  it,  but  we  harbor  a  feeling  of  fear  that  some  God,  envying 
your  beauty  and  happiness,  may  cause  your  destruction.  We  only  say 
this  so  that  you  will  not  be  too  daring  on  your  venturesome  voyage ;  and 
many  will  be  our  prayers  for  your  safe  return  to  your  fair  Athens." 
(Great  applause.)  "Let  me  conclude  by  saying,  Athenian  Four  Hun 
dred, 

"You  are  in  faultless  shape  and  blooming  grace, 
The  Pride  and  Flower  of  the  Grecian  race."     (Great  applause.) 

Diagorax  spoke  up :  "Noble  Hygeiontos ;  I  have  been  asked  by  quite 
a  number  of  our  Athenians,  how  it  is  that  we  see  no  real  old  men, 
bent,  walking  with  three  legs,  as  we  say." 

*  This  legend  supposes  Myrtlus  to  have  lived  before  Lycurgus'  time. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  187 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,"  answered  Hygeiontos :  "We  Spar 
tans  live  longer  now  that  before  the  health  laws  were  decreed  genera 
tions  ago,  but  that  does  not  answer  the  question  asked.  Once  upon  a 
time  a  powerful  lecturer  spoke  on:  'The  Gods  Ever  Love  the  Young,' 
saying :  'The  old  passes  away  and  smiling  Youth  takes  its  place.  When 
man  feels  that  his  senses  are  failing  from  old  age — when  man  without 
any  outward  reason  becomes  crabbed  and  dissatisfied  with  things  aa 
they  are,  it  would  be  well  he  reasoned  rather  than  to  await  sickness 
and  helplessness — leave  the  earth  while  strength  still  remained,  and  not 
wait  till  one  is  overwhelmed  by  the  wave  of  time.'  He  said:  'The 
world  really  never  gets  old ;  it  always  remains  young.  The  average  life 
of  mortal  is  not  of  many  years ;  does  not  attain  old  age.  The  gods  ever 
love  the  young.' "  Thusly  he  spoke. 

The  lecturer  further  said:  "All  living  things  are  comparatively 
young.  Among  all  living  animals,  that  fly  and  swim,  and  crawl  or  walk 
the  earth,  there  are  no  old.  When  any  living  creature,  excepting  man, 
is  getting  old,  the  animals  of  prey,  in  air,  water,  or  on  land,  notice  the 
feebleness  of  motion  of  escape  and  defense,  and  devour  them.  There 
fore  in  a  natural  state,  there  are  no  old  animals. 

"The  old,"  the  lecturer  said,  "should  let  the  young  rule.  They  should 
take  a  back  seat  themselves,  or  walk  off  the  earth. 

"It  is  said  that  the  general  criticism  by  those  who  listened  to  these 
remarks  was  that  the  lecturer  must  have  eaten  a  surfeit  of  wild  boar- 
meat,  which  had  created  a  boorish  feeling  in  his  mind.  The  lecture 
had  two  different  effects.  In  a  large  number  of  the  old  people,  it  cre 
ated  a  desire  to  remain  away  from  public  feasts  and  the  like,  remain 
ing  serenely  satisfied  near  their  homes.  In  others,  again,  especially  such 
as  held  positions  of  power  and  command,  and  those  who  felt  that  they 
too  would  grace  such  callings,  the  lecture  had  a  different  effect. 
Imagining  that  the  universal  desire  was  that  the  old  should  without 
delay  make  way  for  the  young,  life  to  that  class  of  old  men  was  shorn 
of  a  great  share  of  its  charm. 

"We  know,  when  an  aged  man  is  going  to  give  a  banquet  or  a  feast, 
it  is  often  said  that  it  is  his  farewell  feast.  I  shall  relate  only  one  of 
such  feasts — one  which  came  to  pass  only  a  few  moons  ago:  An  aged 
man,  although  still  strong,  gave  a  feast  to  his  many  friends,  at  which 
he  recalled  to  them  the  most  striking  incidents  of  his  life — athletic 
games  and  battles  lost  and  won,  hunting  in  the  wild  forests,  and  the 
companions  who  had  participated.  He  also  thanked  the  Olympian  gods 
for  the  life  they  had  given  him ;  thanked  them  for  the  great  privilege  of 
having  seen  the  rising  sun,  moon,  stars;  the  beautiful  sea,  mountains, 
forests,  flowers;  he  thanked  the  gods  for  having  been  allowed  to  feast 
his  eyes  on  all  the  endless,  wonderful  beauties  of  the  world.  He  thanked 
the  gods  that  he  still  felt  that  he  had  enough  strength  to  walk  to  the 


188  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

end  of  the  world  and,  as  a  true  Spartan,  with  true  Spartan  fearlessness, 
walk  off  over  the  end  of  the  world,  down  into  everlasting  oblivion." 

He  said:  "I  have  nothing  to  lose,  but  all  to  gain  on  my  journey  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  It  must  be  a  long  distance  off;  and  before  I 
arrive  there,  I  will  have  to  cross  many  streams  and  mountains  and  so 
will  see  many  new  lands,  beasts  and  peoples.  But  with  my  spear,  bow 
and  war  club  I  shall  not  step  backward,  but  always  forward,  for  I  fear 
no  man  or  beast.  I  fear  no  death,  for  it  is  death  I  am  seeking :  I  am  on 
my  way  towards  death.  But  on  my  march  to  the  end  of  the  world  I 
will,  if  not  killed,  gain  the  privilege  of  seeing  many  lands  unseen,  per 
haps,  by  any  living  man  before.  At  the  end  of  the  world  they  say,  at 
its  brink,  lie  dreadful  monsters  that  will  not  allow  any  thing  or  being 
to  pass  over  into  the  dark,  deep  abyss  below,  for  it  is  said  the  gods  do 
not  want  anything  to  fall  into  the  abyss,  for  all  that  is  on  the  earth 
belongs  and  shall  remain  on  the  earth. 

"So  may  it  be;  but  I  shall  fearlessly  attack  the  monsters,  and 
whether  they  succeed  in  keeping  me  from  walking  off  the  earth — the 
gods  alone  will  know." 

His  numerous  friends  spoke  feelingly  of  his  past  victories  at  the 
games  and  his  unrivaled  valor  and  bravery  in  battle — all  ending  with 
the  wish  and  hope  that  the  gods  would  vouchsafe  unto  him  many  addi 
tional  moons  of  life. 

But  they  all  knew  what  the  feast  meant  and  what  his  determination 
was.  To  try  to  reason  with  him  would  have  been  tantamount  to  saying 
he  was  a  coward.  All  must  be  left  to  the  Fates. 

The  aged  man  thanked  his  friends.  Of  his  enemies  he  spoke  not. 
He  thanked  the  gods  for  his  victories  and  successes.  His  failures,  he 
said,  were  due  mostly  to  his  own  faults. 

"To  show  how  strong  and  steady  he  still  was,  he  took  up  his  heavy 
spear  and  threw  it  through  a  ring  in  the  distance  hanging  from  a  limb 
as  swiftly  and  expertly  as  in  his  younger  days.  He  also  had  a  drinking 
horn  suspended  from  a  branch  at  a  great  distance,  and  taking  up  his  bow, 
sent  an  arrow  into  its  opening. 

"He  concluded  by  asking  the  gods  to  allow  him  to  retain  his  strength 
and  overcome  all  obstacles,  so  that  as  a  true  Spartan,  he  could  walk  off 
the  earth. 

"He  was  seen  again  a  few  days  after  the  feast ;  but  later  his  friends 
asked  for  him  in  vain.  He  had,  like  many  other  aged  men,  wandered 
forth,  never  to  return  again. 

"  'Tis  said  that  when  the  lecturer  himself  became  aged,  he  followed 
his  own  teachings. 

"Thus  have  I  answered,  noble  Four  Hundred,  your  question  as  to  our 
aged  men;  and  I  am  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  that  the  effect  of  that 
lecture  is  gradually  lessening ;  that  there  are  many  aged  Spartans  here 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  189 

this  day,  more  than  you  seem  to  notice;  and  that  the  one-time  only 
alternative  to  walk  off  the  earth,  is  being  regarded  by  an  increasing 
number  of  Spartans  as  an  act  of  cowardice,  rather  than  of  true  courage. 

"To  attain  old  age  is  the  privilege  of  the  few.  To  honor  old  age 
thus  favored  by  the  gods,  is  not  only  the  duty,  but  is,  I  am  pleased  to 
say,  the  natural  inborn  feeling  of  every  brave,  valiant,  young  Spartan. 
A  true  Spartan  possesses  the  courage  to  live  this  life  from  its  beginning 
to  its  end,  conquering  all  obstacles  without  complaining."  (Great  ap 
plause.  ) 

Hygeiontos  resumed  his  seat. 

Sophon  stepped  forward  and  said:  "Valiant  Spartans!  We  have 
been  told  that  you  Laconians  are  men  of  few  words.  But  from  the  agree 
able,  instructive  and  entertaining  explanation  of  our  inquiries,  we  find 
that  there  are  also  exceptions  in  Sparta.  I  shall  now  be  a  true  Spartan, 
by  using  only  a  few  words:  It  is  time  for  the  games  to  begin." 

"The  field  Athletico  or  Hercules'  field  is  a  wide,  grassy  plot,  more  or 
less  surrounded  by  distant  fir  clad  hills.  The  rising  seats  from  which 
the  thousands  of  spectators  view  the  various  games  and  contests  are 
backed  by  a  hillside.  At  the  front,  in  the  center  of  the  long  row  of 
rising  seats,  King  Gythio  and  his  chiefs  were. seated,  near  which,  also, 
the  speakers  stood.  The  Athenian  Four  Hundred  had  been  given  special 
seats. 

"Immediately  after  Sophon  had  resumed  his  seat,  Actorus,  the  Spar 
tan,  and  Gracio,  our  Athenian  master  of  games,  walked  out  on  the  field, 
in  front  of  the  King,  to  arrange  for  the  various  games.  Our  Gracio  was 
given  the  command  of  our  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  who  all  stepped 
down  from  their  seats  and  formed  into  lines  by  couples. 

"Actorus  selected  an  equal  number  of  Spartan  maidens  and  men,  who 
also  formed  into  couples. 

"Actorus,  addressing  the  contestants,  said:  'Noble  athletic  Athenian 
Four  Hundred !  Brave  athletic  Spartans !  What  is  more  desirable  than 
gold  or  shining  jewels  to  an  athlete?  You  all  would  answer  with  one 
great  voice :  "Victory !  Victory  !"  Gold  and  precious  stones  may  vanish 
during  the  night,  but  the  victor  of  an  Olympic  game 

The  bards  and  poets  sing  his  praise 
In  long  enduring,  endless  lays. 

"  'To  a  victor  belong  the  noblest  qualities  of  a  man ;  high  aspirations, 
rapid  decisions  of  action,  superior  courage  and  strength.  Such,  it  goes 
without  saying,  are  at  all  times,  the  heroes  and  defenders  of  their 
country. 

Some  olive  twigs  still  greening  now 
Will  soon  bedeck  some  victor's  brow. 


190  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

11  'Be  it  known  to  all ; 

Each  athlete,  when  the  friendly  contest  ends, 
A  sumptuous  banquet  at  our  board  attends. 

41  'As  a  Spartan,  I  have  not  many  words.  Our  priest  Laconious,  who 
is  in  touch  with  our  gods,  will  now  implore  their  blessing  for  this  day's 
contests  and  games.' " 

Laconius,  with  incense  burning,  said:  "Omnipotent,  Olympic  gods! 
From  the  crown  of  your  high,  far-seeing  mount,  may  this,  our  Athe 
nian-Spartan  festal  day  be  pleasing  in  your  sight.  O  Zeus,  god  of  gods, 
Olympian  gods  all;  with  our  minds  permeated  with  the  memory  of  the 
valiant  deeds  of  Hercules,  we  pray  to  you,  implore  you,  O  do  not  in 
our  contests,  favor  this  one,  or  that  one,  but  let  impartiality  reign  this 
day,  and  victory  come  to  him  or  her;  to  each  one's  own  efforts  and 
prowess.  Olympian  gods,  beholding  this  day,  may  it  also  to  you,  be  as 
a  festal  day,  a  pleasure  to  behold." 

Actorus  called  out:  "Fellow  Spartans,  with  a  feeling  of  kinship, 
being  also  master  of  athletic  games,  I  introduce  to  you  our  Athenian 
guest  of  the  day,  noble  Gracio."  (Great  applause.) 

Gracio  said:  "Valiant  Spartans!  Your  very  agreeable  applause 
touches  my  ears  as  a  grand  echo  from  your  heroic  forefathers  who 
fought  side  by  side  with  our  Athenian  forefathers  on  the  battle  fields 
of  Troy.  (Great  applause.)  I  said  your  agreeable  applause  touches 
my  ears,  but,  O,  with  moisture  in  my  eyes,  I  must  say,  it  also  touches 
my  heart  beyond  words  of  expression — the  applause  of  those  in  whose 
forefathers'  heroic  deeds  our  forefathers  also  gloried.  The  applause 
of  such  goes  much  further  than  the  ear ;  it  touches  the  strongest  heart 
to  tears— or  it  must  not  be  a  Grecian  heart.  (Great  applause.) 

"Fellow  Athletes!    Fellow  Contestants! 

O,  many  a  lyre  is  tuning  now, 

Preparing  for  your  praise; 
The  lyre  and  harp  in  song  will  join, 

In  sweet  wave-flowing  lays. 

"At  this  juncture,  a  messenger  from  the  ship  spoke  to  Gracio,  after 
which  the  latter  said: 

"  'Fellow  Athletes,  Captain  Arteus  of  our  ship  sends  word  that  the 
sun  will  not  stand  still  even  on  such  an  auspicious  day  as  tkis,  and  he 
advises  me  to  use  my  efforts  to  hasten  the  games,  so  that  our  ship,  in 
good  time,  early  on  the  coming  morn,  may  depart  in  good  form.  So  I 
will  not  delay  and  will  only  add  what  I  wanted  to  say  before,  although 
It  may  turn  out  to  be  somewhat  out  of  joint  with  what  I  started  out  to 
say. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  191 

"'Fellow  Athletes: 

The  Muses  nine  will  now  be  sought 
By  poets,  bards  with  rapid  thought, 
On  winged  Pegasus  everywhere, 
A  soaring  through  the  ambient  air. 

When  games  are  ended,  banquets  spread, 
Then  will  in  flowing  rhymes  be  said 
The  praises  of  the  victors  brave, 
In  song  to  live  beyond  the  grave. 

"Brave  Hercules  twelve  labors  won, 
Be  they  to  each  a  guiding  sun." 

"  As  an  enthusiastic  athlete,  Gracio  concluded: 

'We've  had  of  words  our  fill  this  day, 
So  let  us  now  begin  to  play.' 

"On  Gracio's  concluding,  Actorus  said :  'Fellow  Athletes !  The  judges 
for  the  various  contests  have  been  chosen.  After  the  singing  of  the  song 
Athletio,  which  is  known  to  all  Grecians,  the  games  will  begin.' 

"Cliopia  asked  all  of  the  athletes  to  join  in  song,  to  be  accom 
panied  by  harp,  lute,  lyre,  timbrel  and  cymbal.  The  song  is  well  known 
to  all  Grecians  and  it  is  not  necessary  for  the  scribe  to  record,  begin 
ning  as  it  does : 

When  Greek  joins  Greek  on  festal  day, 
The  watchword  is  fair  play — fair  play. 

"Thousands  of  voices  joined  in  with  genuine  Grecian  enthusiasm. 
As  the  last  strains  of  the  sweet  song  died  away,  the  athletes,  in  couples, 
with  shield  and  spear,  in  wide  columns,  Athenians  leading,  as  a  mark 
of  courtesy,  marched  to  the  further  end  of  the  Hercules'  field,  returning 
in  a  moderate  run,  in  military  order,  back  to  their  former  positions 
before  the  King.  The  shields  of  our  Athenian  Four  Hundred  were 
greatly  studied  and  admired  by  the  Spartans.  Especially  were  the 
shields  with  the  following  embellishments  greatly  admired: 

Achilles,  dragging  Hector's  body  behind  his  chariot  to  the  Greek 
camp. 

The  meeting  of  Hector  and  Andromache. 

Andromache  fainting  on  the  Trojan  wall. 

Homer  invoking  the  Muses. 

Thetis  entreating  Jupiter  to  honor  Achilles. 

Jupiter  sending  the  evil  dream  to  Agamemnon. 

Venus  presenting  Helen  to  Paris. 

The  Council  of  the  Gods. 

Diomedes  casting  his  spear  at  Mars, 

Hector  chiding  Paris, 

Juno  and  Minerva  going  to  assist  the  Greeks. 

The  descent  of  Discord. 

The  embassy  to  Achilles. 

Ajax  defending  the  Greek  ships. 


192  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Juno  commanding  the  Sun  to  set. 
Thetis  bringing  new  armor  to  Achilles. 
Council  of  Jupiter,  Minerva  and  Mercury. 
The  descent  of  Minerva  to  Ithaca. 
Ulysses  weeps  at  the  song  of  Demodocus. 
Aphrodite  rising  from  the  foam  of  the  sea. 
Pandora  opening  the  vase. 
The  Pleiades. 

"These  shields,  from  among  the  other  embellished  shields,  called 
forth  the  greatest  interest  from  among  the  Spartans.  On  the  march  to 
the  further  end  of  the  field,  the  Athenian  shields  shone  out  conspicu 
ously  in  contrast  to  those  of  the  Spartans.  It  may  not  be  noble,  as 
guests,  to  note  these  small  differences;  but  especially  when  the  wide 
columns  in  returning  from  the  further  end  of  the  field  on  a  run,  the  sun 
shining  on  the  brightly  burnished  bronze  shields,  it  could  not  but  help 
make  our  Athenian  shields  favorably  conspicuous.  The  Spartan  shields 
were  fully  as  strong  for  battle,  but  they  were  mostly  plain,  only  a  few 
adorned  with  ornamentations. 

"To  an  experienced  warrior  the  grand  scene  might  have  made  a  dif 
ferent  impression.  The  Spartan  with  his  shield  we  know  is  hard  to 
match  in  battle. 

"The  march  was  followed  by  a  short  exhibition  drill  with  shields  and 
short  lances,  the  maidens  followed  the  men  in  their  movements,  all  of 
which  were  interestingly  executed.  Two  lines,  one  hundred  men  in  a 
line,  stood  opposite  each  other  a  short  distance  apart,  those  on  one 
side  threw  their  lances  with  a  graceful  curve  just  over  the  heads  of 
those  on  the  opposite  side.  Those,  in  turn,  threw  their  lances  straight 
against  the  helmets  of  those  opposite,  each  helmet  of  which  was  let 
loose  on  the  head,  falling  to  the  ground.  Next,  the  lines  were  stretched 
out  longer — the  distance  widened  between  each  man.  Then  those  on 
one  side  threw  with  full  force,  their  lances  at  the  breasts  of  those  on 
the  opposite  side;  these,  with  almost  unbelievable  quickness,  stepped 
aside,  each  catching  the  flying  lance  firmly  in  his  hand,  hurling  it  back 
(the  first  throwers  in  turn  catching  the  returning  lance  with  incredible 
dexterity  as  it  came  their  way). 

"The  Spartan  exhibition  drill,  in  which  the  maidens  took  part,  was 
also  very  interesting  and  intricate.  One  of  our  scribes  has  attempted 
to  draw  a  diagram  of  the  movements  of  the  intricate  exhibition  drill, 
but  it  looks  like  a  spider  web,  slightly  disfigured. 

"Gracio  also  called  upon  our  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  who  also  gave 
an  Athenian  exhibition  drill.  The  men  and  maidens  with  shields  and 
lances  passed  through  many  beautiful  mazy  movements,  passing  through 
each  other's  lines,  turning  around  and  returning;  marching  into  many 
Intricate  figures,  at  times  striking  their  shields  with  their  lances  in 
rhythmic  time.  Whether  walking  or  running  or  swinging  into  long  col- 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  193 

urans,  their  movements  always  were  rhythmic  and  graceful.  Their  general 
haughty,  noble  appearance,  with  burnished  shields,  feathers  from  the 
maidens  and  horsehair  from  the  men's  helmets,  nodding  as  they  moved, 
presented  a  pleasing  spectacle. 

"The  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  with  their  god-given  beauty  and  nobil 
ity,  clad  in  rich  raiment,  marching  in  wide,  stately  columns  over  the 
grassy  plain,  looked  like  an  army  of  kings  and  queens.  No  wonder  the 
admiration  of  the  Spartans  knew  no  bounds.  Truly,  even  if  an  Athen 
ian  scribe  says  it,  they  were  good  to  look  upon. 

"Actorus  announced  that  on  account  of  the  limited  time,  a  number  of 
games  would  have  to  be  left  out,  including  wrestling,  swimming  and 
boat  racing.  The  games  commenced  with  a  foot  race,  the  maidens  to  go 
through  their  contests  first.  All  the  Athenians  and  the  same  number 
of  Spartan  maidens,  at  the  signal  of  Actorus,  rushed  from  the  starting 
line  over  the  field  to  the  long  line  on  the  north  end  of  the  field,  return 
ing  to  the  starting  line. 

Armithene,  Anthenian,  was  declared  the  victor  by  the  judges. 

"As  upon  her  return  she  passed  over  the  starting  line,  great  excite 
ment  and  cheers  rent  the  air. 

"The  second  contest  was  archery.  Ten  Spartan  and  ten  Athenian 
maidens  were  chosen  by  lot.  A  covered  box,  containing  two  white  doves 
was  placed  on  the  field,  the  archers  taking  a  position  at  equal  distance 
around  it.  The  judge  removed  the  cover  and  up  flew  the  doves,  one 
falling  at  a  close  distance,  to  the  ground,  pierced  by  three  darts. 

"The  other  flew  in  a  bewildered  state  over  the  hillside  pines.  The 
judge  held  up  the  dead  dove.  The  multitude  grew  wild  with  cheers. 
Out  of  ten  arrows,  three  had  pierced  one  bird,  and  the  other  escaped 
unharmed.  The  judge  declared  all  three  maidens  whose  arrows  were 
marked,  as  victors,  being-  Livone,  Athenian  maiden,  Eudene  and 
Neothia,  Spartan  maidens. 

"Next  followed  lance  throwing  by  twenty  Spartan  and  twenty  Athe 
nian  maidens,  chosen  by  lot.  A  ring  of  the  size  of  a  child's  head  was  sus 
pended  from  an  angle  board.  Each  contestant  had  ten  throws;  the 
lances  going  fully  through  the  ring  the  greatest  number  of  times  out 
of  ten  chances  created  the  victor.  The  judges  had  placed  the  distance 
so  long  that  they  found  it  necessary  to  shorten  it.  The  first  five  throws 
followed  each  other  consecutively.  All  missed  the  mark. 

"At  the  end  of  the  contest,  the  judges  announced  Milites  as 
victor,  having  thrown  the  lance  four  times  through  the  ring.  Loud 
shouts  prevailed. 

"Next  followed  a  grand  foot  race  by  men  with  shields  and  lances 
held  as  if  in  combat.  One  hundred  Spartans  and  the  same  number  of 
Athenians  contested.  The  contest  presented  a  noble  spectacle.  Actorus, 
after  walking  along  the  whole  line,  took  a  position  in  the  center  of  the 


194  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

line.  Upon  calling  out  with  his  clear,  strong  stentorian  voice,  which 
could  be  heard  to  the  furthest  end  of  the  field:  Noble  Athletes,  one! 
two !  start !  Off  they  went  with  shields  in  left,  and  spear  in  right  hand. 
Onward  the  long,  broken  column  swept,  struggled,  a  few  stumbling  to 
the  ground  here  and  there.  The  thousands  of  spectators  rose  and  stood 
on  their  seats,  against  the  Spartan  regulations.  A  great,  broken  column 
it  was  before  it  reached  the  opposite  line ;  the  foremost  of  which,  on 
their  return  run,  found  it  difficult  to  pass  through  and  against  the  ranks 
of  the  belated  runners  without  impediment,  without  losing  time.  Upon 
touching  the  further  line,  the  long,  greatly  distorted  column  came  back 
like  a  strong  rushing  storm,  the  difference  in  speed  making  the  word 
column  highly  undescriptive  and  inappropriate.  On — on  they  rushed! 
The  eyes  of  the  multitude  mainly  fixed  on  the  foremost.  It's  between 
the  first  six!  Now  between  the  first  two!  All  eyes  are  on  the  first 
two,  one  of  which  seems  plainly  the  winner.  On — on!  they  struggle, 
holding  the  shield  and  spear  in  regular  position.  The  large  crowd  of 
runners  follow  as  if  in  pursuit.  Nearer  and  nearer  to  the  goal  rush  the 
struggling  two.  The  excitement  among  the  spectators  is  beyond  all 
bounds.  Three  judges  are  standing  equidistant  apart  on  the  starting 
line.  Like  well  matched  runners,  on,  on  they  strive  with  equal  chances 
of  success. 

"The  excitement  was  tremendous.  Now  this  one — and  now  that  one, 
is  slightly  ahead.  The  ground  starting  line  is  within  their  sight.  With 
a  tremendous  effort,  one  passes  over  the  goal,  dropping  his  shield  and 
lance,  and  falls  to  the  ground.  The  other,  close  after,  is  also  over  the 
line.  But  the  first  is  the  victor.  The  judges  immediately  surround 
him.  He  is  not  dead,  but  utterly  exhausted  as  is  also  the  other  con 
testant. 

"A  large  crowd,  sitting  on  the  lower  benches,  rushes  out  and  in  spite 
of  all  the  judges'  remonstrances  carry  off  the  victor,  'midst  unbounded 
cheering  and  up  before  the  King. 

"The  judges  take  his  name,  also  the  name  of  the  second  best,  and 
remain  on  the  line  to  give  an  acorn  to  the  slowest  runner  as  an  acknowl 
edgment  of  the  attempt  he  made — in  the  belief  that  even  an  attempt 
spurns  man  to  greater  effort.  But  no  songs  of  praise  are  allowed  him ; 
nor  ridicule,  either,  that  being  punishable. 

"The  point  of  attraction  is  the  victors.  The  hundreds  of  other  run 
ners  are  also  striving  to  their  utmost  not  to  be  the  hindmost.  On  they 
rush  in  crowds  with  shields  and  lances  raised  as  in  combat.  The  grand 
sight  is  inspiring.  Not  to  be  the  hindmost,  is  now  a  struggle  between 
a  small  number.  The  judge  holds  up  the  acorn  in  hand,  and  as  the 
last  contestant  runs  over  the  line,  he  is  given  the  acorn,  hoping  that 
his  strength  may  grow  like  an  acorn,  into  the  strength  of  an  oak. 

"The  foot  contest  is  over.   On  all  sides  is  heard  the  question:  'Who 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  195 

is  the  winner?'  After  hearing  becomes  possible,  the  King  arose,  the 
victor  standing  near  him.  The  King  stepped  up  to  the  victor,  took  him 
by  the  hand,  and  turning  to  Actorus,  who  stood  on  the  field  below,  said : 

"  'Actorus,  master  of  games !  Make  the  name  that  will  henceforth  be 
known  to  fame,  known  to  the  world.  Also  the  name  of  the  second 
winner.' 

"Actorus,  standing  near  the  judges,  spoke  up  in  his  accustomed,  clear, 
agreeable  tones,  and  said :  'The  second  prize  has  been  won  by  Lagardus, 
an  Athenian.'  (Loud  cheering.)  The  victor  who  wins  the  first  prize 
of  the  grand  contest  is  Pedometes,  a  Spartan.'  (Great  applause.) 

"The  tremendous  cheering,  shouting,  exultation  and  general  excite 
ment  that  follow  is  beyond  the  abilty  of  the  scribe  to  describe.  It  is 
quite  generally  stated  that  one  of  the  victor's  forefathers  had  also  been 
a  victor  in  a  famous  foot  race,  generations  ago,  and  that  his  praises 
were  sung  to  this  day.  That  is  true,  I  believe.  The  Athenian  Four 
Hundred,  although  not  demonstrative,  rejoiced  that  also  one  of  their 
number  was  a  victor,  although  only  second  best. 

"The  next  contest  was  leaping:  first,  standing;  second,  running; 
third,  jumping  from  a  springboard.  In  this  interesting  feat  a  Spartan 
was  also  victor,  'midst  great  applause. 

"Next,  stone  throwing  by  another  set  chosen  by  lot.  A  light  stone 
and  a  heavy  stone. 

"Neolithicus,  a  Spartan,  threw  the  heavy  stone  and  also  the  light 
stone  beyond  the  farthest  point  of  the  other  throwers,  and  was  declared 
victor,  with  applause. 

"Another  set  of  equal  number  participated  in  the  throwing  of  the 
discus.  This  game  seems  to  be  a  great  favorite  among  the  Spartans, 
and  was  also  skillfully  won  by  Circularus,  a  Spartan,  also  'midst  great 
rejoicing. 

"The  next  contest  was  archery.  A  set  of  forty  Spartans  and  forty 
Athenians,  chosen  by  lot,  were  stationed  equal  distances  apart  around  a 
man  holding  a  box  containing  a  swift-flying  dove.  The  cover  was 
thrown  off  suddenly  and  the  dove  immediately  soared  quite  a  distance 
in  the  air  when  it  ceased  its  flight,  shot  by  several  arrows,  and  fell  to 
the  ground.  The  judge  picked  it  up,  held  it  to  view,  showing  that  it 
was  pierced  by  five  arrows.  No  victor  was  declared. 

"Another  dove,  in  the  same  box,  held  on  a  high  pole,  was  to  decide 
the  contest.  The  cover  opened,  the  dove  flew  high  to  one  side  and 
would  have  escaped  if  one  of  the  eighty  darts  had  not  pierced  it,  com 
pelling  it  to  fall  to  the  ground,  a  distance  off.  The  judge  held  up  the 
dove,  showing  that  it  had  been  pierced  by  an  arrow  belonging  to  Pin- 
darus,  of  Athens,  whom  the  judge,  'midst  deafening  cheers,  declared 
victor. 

"Next  came  throwing  the  lance,  in  which  another  set  of  fifty  con- 


196  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

testants  on  each  side  engaged.  Two  rings  were  suspended  at  equal 
height,  a  man's  height,  one  in  front  of  the  other,  an  arm's  length  apart. 
He  who  should  throw  his  lance  fully  through  the  rings  the  greatest  num 
ber  of  times,  in  ten  throws,  was  to  be  declared  winner.  All  did  re 
markably  well. 

"Darades,  a  Spartan,  who  had  with  great  force,  and  in  a  very  dex 
terous  manner,  thrown  the  lance  fully  through  the  rings  seven  out  of 
ten  throws,  was,  with  great  Spartan  rejoicing,  declared  victor. 

"The  lance  contest  was  followed  by  a  Spartan  exhibition  in  lance- 
throwing,  or  rather  lance-evading  and  catching. 

"Hypponax,  a  noted  Spartan  swordsman  and  lancer,  stepped  into  the 
field  in  convenient  view  of  the  spectators,  not  clad  in  armor,  but  in 
light  athletic  raiment.  He  spoke  out:  'Friends,  Athenians,  Spartans: 
I  challenge  ten  persons,  five  Athenians  and  five  Spartans,  to  pierce  me 
with  a  spear  if  they  can.  Each  singly  to  have  two  throws.'  He  contin 
ued:  'There  are  three  different  kinds  of  lances  to  select  from,  just 
beyond  the  line  seven  man's  lengths  from  the  line,  near  which  I  take 
my  stand.' 

"Five  Spartans  and  five  Athenians  were  chosen  by  lot  and  walked 
out  on  the  field  as  duty  demanded.  Hypponax  said:  'Lancers,  I  first 
must  have  your  solemn  word  that  you  will,  with  all  your  strength  and 
dexterity,  try  your  best,  just  as  though  in  battle,  to  pierce  me  to  the 
death  in  each  throw.'  They  answered  'that  if  he  so  insisted,  and  it  was 
his  command,  they  were  bound  to  act  their  part  accordingly.' 

"Hypponax  continued:  'If  you  do  not  throw  with  all  your  might 
and  most  skillful  aim,  it  will  affect  me  so  that  I  may  not  be  able  to 
catch  the  lances.  A  play,'  he  continued,  'must  even  be  played  with 
earnestness,  or  it  is  no  play.  I  would  rather  you  were  not  chosen  by  lot, 
but  then  your  appearance  seems  to  say  that  you  possess  the  true  lancer 
spirit.' 

"Hypponax  stood  forth,  saying:  'Lancers,  I  challenge  you  to  pierce 
me  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  but  remember  your  solemn  promise.' 

"A  spell  of  silence  passed  over  the  spectators;  a  feeling  as  though 
the  day  would  not  end  agreeably,  seemed  to  have  quieted  the  spectators 
into  an  ominous  stillness.  Hypponax  said:  'One  of  you  count  one — 
two — and  at  three,  cast  the  lance.' 

"As  a  lancer  stepped  forth  to  the  line,  with  lance  poised,  it  seemed 
certain  that  a  tragedy  was  to  take  place.  One!  two!  three!  a  lance 
flew  straight  at  Hypponax's  breast,  but  quicker  than  belief,  he  stepped 
and  leaned  to  one  side,  catching  and  holding  the  lance  near  its  middle, 
securely  in  his  grasp,  only  having  fallen  on  the  ground  with  one  knee. 
The  multitude  cheered. 

"It  was  easily  seen  that  the  lancers  all  tried  hard  to  show  that  they 
could  pierce  him;  but  the  spectators,  before  its  ending,  felt  secure  in 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  197 

the  feeling  that  Hypponax  was  beyond  all  expectations,  skillful  and 
dexterous  enough  to  elude  the  lancer's  deathly  sting,  thus  saving  the 
beautiful  day  from  witnessing  a  tragedy. 

"Orientes  stepped  out  in  the  arena  and  addressed  Hypponax: 
'Noble  Hypponax,  the  Athenians  have  asked  me  to  present  this  silver 
goblet  to  you  as  a  token  of  appreciation  and  acknowledgment  of  your 
wonderful  daring  skill.  In  days  to  come,  may  its  sight  remind  you  of 
this  beautiful  Spartan-Athenian  festal  day.' 

"Hypponax  accepted  the  goblet  with  the  tact  and  gracefulness  of  the 
fencing  master  that  he  was. 

"He  said :  'Charming  young  Athenian  maiden !  I  accept  this  beau 
tiful  cup  as  if  it  came  from  a  goddess.  I  thank  the  noble  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens  for  this  handsome  gift;  and  in  days  to  come  I  shall 
often  drain  this  goblet  of  pure  Greek  wine  to  the  health  and  welfare 
of  the  noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens.'  (Great  applause.) 

"Hypponax  remained  in  the  arena.  Taking  up  a  sword  from  a  num 
ber  lying  along  side  of  his  lances,  he  called  out:  'Who  will  aid  me  In 
giving  an  exhibition  sword  contest?  I  challenge  some  Athenian  to  a 
friendly  combat,  the  contest  to  cease  upon  a  sword  point  showing  the 
first  coloring  of  blood.  All  parts  of  the  body  are  to  be  considered  in 
vulnerable  excepting  the  arms  and  legs,  from  one  of  which  the  blood 
must  color  a  sword  point.  Not  an  encounter  unto  death,  for  the  piercing 
of  an  arm  or  leg  is  not  such,  but  only  serves  to  show  who  is  the  victor. 
Who  is  the  Athenian  who  will  accept  my  challenge?' 

"Up  to  that  time  no  one  moved,  but  at  Hypponax's  last  challenge, 
Marstenes  stood  up  from  one  of  the  lower  seats  among  the  Athenians  and 
marched  into  the  arena  with  endless  deafening  applause. 

"Marstenes  had  often  acted  as  assistant  of  a  noted  Athenian  swords 
man  and  fencing  master. 

"Hypponax  handed  several  brightly  burnished  bronze  swords  for 
Marstenes'  selection,  upon  which  they  measured  the  lengths  of  the 
swords,  which  were  to  be  equal. 

"Hypponax  called  out:  'March  forward,  two  Athenians  and  two 
Spartans,  to  act  as  judges  to  end  the  contest,  upon  the  first  blood 
stained  sword  point.'  The  seconds  marked  off  a  large  square  space  with 
a  sword.  Hypponax  and  Marstenes,  clad  in  thin  athletic  attire,  heads 
uncovered,  excepting  Hypponax,  with  a  wealth  of  dark  hair  and  Mars 
tenes  with  a  wealth  of  flowing  yellow  hair,  walked  to  opposite  ends 
within  the  square  marked  off,  met  each  other,  shook  hands,  walking 
back  to  the  inside  end  of  the  square  again.  Upon  the  word  'Forward,' 
from  one  of  the  judges,  the  combat  began. 

"Both  walked  towards  each  other.  Clash  !  clash  !  clash  !  in  quick  suc 
cession  followed.  The  great  crowd  of  spectators  looked  on  with  great 
suspense.  Clash!  clash!  clash!  Each  combatant  seemed  determined  to 


198  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

take  a  firm  stand,  until  Marstenes  seemed  to  give  way,  followed  by 
Hypponax.  Marstenes  stopped  moving  backward  and  with  skillful  par 
ries,  followed  by  feints,  Hypponax  deemed  it  necessary  to  move  side 
ways  and  backward.  Marstenes  again  held  his  ground.  Clash !  clash ! 
clash!  came  the  sounds  in  quick  succession.  Hypponax  at  one  point, 
tried  by  fierce  blows  to  disarm  Marstenes,  but  to  no  avail.  Attacks  with 
feints  of  thrusting  were  practiced  an  untold  number  of  times  by  both 
combatants,  but  by  each  as  skillfully  evaded  and  parried.  Clash !  clash ! 
clash !  sounded  endlessly  until  it  became  monotonous  to  the  seconds  and 
believing  that  not  one  of  them  would  be  able  to  ever  accomplish  a  suc 
cessful  thrust,  one  of  the  seconds  with  hands  raised,  cried  out :  'Stop,' 
saying,  'within  one  hundred  clashes,  unless  one  succeeds  in  reddening 
a  sword's  point,  the  combat  will  be  called  closed.  Now,  again,  battle!' 

"Clash !  clash !  clash !  with  even  greater  determination  than  before ; 
seemingly  unto  death.  In  the  midst  of  their  fearful  struggle  for  suprem 
acy  the  seconds  called  out:  'Stop!'  Both  combatants  remained  un 
moved  in  their  position. 

"Hypponax  had  pierced  Marstenes'  arm.  Marstenes  had  thrust  a 
sword  point  into  Hypponax's  leg.  Thus  they  stood,  motionless  like  a 
double  statue  of  gladiators.  One  of  the  Spartan,  and  one  of  the  Athe 
nian  seconds,  loosened  the  swords  from  the  combatants'  hands,  held 
them  up,  blood  flowing  from  the  point  of  each,  down  over  the  handles. 
The  shouts  of  the  spectators  were  echoed  from  the  distant  mountains. 
As  yet,  it  was  not  clear  to  them  as  to  who  was  the  vanquished.  When 
the  uproar  diminished,  subsided,  one  of  the  Spartan  seconds,  holding 
both  of  the  blood-dripping  swords  up  to  the  view  of  the  spectators, 
shouted  in  a  loud,  distinct,  Spartan  voice :  'Truly — 

Our  prayers  to  the  gods,  this  day, 
That  impartiality  hold  sway, 
Has  been  observed. 

"Upon  which  followed  a  tremendous  wave  of  cheering,  mingled  with 
a  feeling  of  general  joyful  relief  as  to  the  outcome  of  the  fierce  sword 
contest. 

"Our  Marstenes  was  as  quickly  attended  to  by  the  Spartan  healers 
as  was  Hypponax ;  both  of  whom  bowed  with  a  smile  towards  the  spec 
tators;  then  stood  there,  hand  in  hand,  under  rousing  cheers  of  ap 
plause.  Spartan  and  Athenian  maidens  rushed  out  to  the  arena,  fasten 
ing  flowers  to  their  garments  and  swords. 

"The  games  concluded  with  a  Spartan  war  chariot  race.  Twelve  war 
chariots,  each  drawn  by  the  high  spirited  steeds  driven  by  a  driver  at 
whose  side  stood  a  stalwart  warrior  clad  in  full  armor,  the  head  with 
a  high,  graceful  horse  hair  helmet,  holding  a  shield  in  his  left  hand  and 
a  spear  in  his  right,  as  in  battle.  The  twelve  chariots  formed  in  line  in 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  199 

front  of  the  King.  At  his  command,  they  flew,  under  the  lashes  of  the 
drivers,  over  the  field.  Arriving  at  the  farthest  end  of  the  field  they 
turned  and  tore  furiously  toward  the  starting  line.  At  the  turning 
point  one  chariot  was  broken  to  pieces  and  the  driver  and  warrior 
badly  hurt.  The  others  came  flying  at  a  tremendous  speed,  a  team  of 
roans  winning  the  race. 

"It  was  owned  by  Gyphodus,  the  King's  son.  The  chariot,  team, 
driver  and  warrior  were  decorated  with  flowers  and  ordered  by  the 
King  to  give  one  short  exhibition  of  speed  singly,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which,  Actorus  announced  that  all  the  judges  and  victors  should  ascend 
the  platform  occupied  by  the  King.  There  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by 
virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  received  the  men  with  kingly,  and  the 
queen  received  the  maidens  with  queenly  grace. 

"The  King  said:  'Noble  Victors;  this  day's  games  shall  be  known 
to  posterity  as  the  Athenian-Spartan  Games,  held  in  honor  of  our  noble 
guests,  the  noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred.'  The  King  continued:  'The 
laurel  being  sacred  to  Apollo,  Spartan  maidens  will  crown  each  man 
victor  with  a  laurel  wreath.  The  olive  being  sacred  to  the  Goddess 
Athene  (Minerva),  Spartan  youths  will  crown  each  maiden  victor  with 
an  olive  wreath.  After  receiving  the  crown  each  man  victor  will  pass 
to  Actorus  and  receive  a  prize  as  an  enduring  memento  of  this  day's 
Athenian- Spartan  games.  The  maiden  victors  will  pass  to  Gracio  to 
receive  similar  prizes.' 

"As  each  victor's  name  was  announced,  he  or  she  walked  to  the  front 
of  the  platform  in  view  of  the  thousands  of  spectators.  After  being 
crowned,  'midst  deafening  applause,  each  victor  passed  to  the  master  of 
games  to  receive  their  other  prizes.  Gracio  announced:  'First  contest, 
maiden  foot  race — Armathene,  Athenian  victor — olive  crown  and  a 
silver  bracelet.'  (Great  applause.)  'Second  contest:  maidens' archery 
— three  victors:  Eudene  and  Neothia,  Spartan,  and  Liosne,  Athenian; 
each  an  olive  crown  and  a  tiny  golden  arrow — to  pierce  the  heart  of 
young  men.'  (Applause.)  'Third  contest:  maidens'  lance  casting — 
Milites,  Athenian,  olive  crown  and  a  golden  jeweled  lance,  for  her 
beautiful  brown  hair.'  (Applause.) 

"Actorus  announced:  'Fourth  contest:  men's  grand  foot  race, 
Pedometes,  victor,  Spartan;  laurel  crown  and  a  gold-tipped  drinking 
horn.  In  drinking  wine  from  it,  may  it  run  as  smoothly  and  success 
fully  as  you  have  outrun  all  the  other  runners!  Second  winner:  Le- 
gardus,  Athenian;  a  laurel  crown  and  a  pair  of  sandals — which  we 
hope  may  warm  up  his  feet  so  that  he,  some  day,  may  be  first  winner. 
(Great  applause.)  Fifth  contest:  Leaping— Lycorsius,  Spartan,  victor; 
a  laurel  crown  and  a  strong,  glittering  belt;  but  not  wide  enough  to 
shield  his  heart  from  Cupid's  dart.  (Applause.)  Sixth  contest:  Stone 
throwing  (man's  first  weapon),  Neolithicus,  Spartan,  victor;  laurel 


200  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

crown  and  a  hunting  horn;  by  taking  a  stone  from  the  ground;  he 
makes  things  dangerous  all  around.  (Applause.)  Seventh  contest: 
Discus  throwing — Circularus,  victor,  Spartan;  a  laurel  crown  and  a 
tiny  golden  discus.  Circularus  made  the  other  heads  swim,  therefore 
the  prize  belongs  to  him.  (Applause.)  Eighth  contest:  Grand  archery 
— Pindarus,  Athenian;  a  laurel  crown  and  a  tiny  silver  dove  pierced 
with  an  arrow. 

Achilles-like,  It  had  a  vulnerable  part, 

High  on  the  wing,  it  felt  Pindarus'  dart.  (Applause.) 

Ninth  contest:  Grand  lance-casting — Darades,  Spartan,  victor;  laurel 
crown  and  a  small  burnished  bronze  lance. 

To  stand  in  Darades'  way, 

To  night  would  turn  the  brightest  day.  (Applause.) 

Hypponax  and  Marstenes, 

A  bloody  battle  fought; 
A  victor — neither  one  of  these, 

But  then  the  seconds  thought 
Their  bravery  and  skill  should  be 

Made  known  to  future  days ; 
So  grace  each  with  a  laurel  crown, 

The  symbol  of  our  praise.  (Applause.) 

"Upon  the  maidens  crowning  with  laurel  wreaths  Hypponax,  who 
came  forward  with  the  aid  of  a  cane,  and  Marstenes,  who  stood  with  one 
arm  in  a  sling,  the  crowd  cheered  lustily. 

"This  closed  the  games.  A  number  of  horns  were  blown,  calling  all 
athletes  to  the  banquet  board. 

"The  banquet  was  held  on  the  Hercules  field,  in  the  shade  of  its 
western  pine-clad  hills.  At  two  rows  of  very  long  board  tables  were 
seated  over  one  thousand  athletes  and  Spartan  citizens.  The  King  and 
his  nobles  sat  near  the  center  of  the  long  row  of  tables.  Great  were 
the  preparations  which  had  been  made  for  the  banquet.  Firstlings  of 
cattle,  swine  and  sheep  loaded  the  boards.  Spartan  wine  was  served 
to  our  Athenian  Four  Hundred  in  large  drinking  horns,  passed  from 
one  to  the  other. 

"After  the  King  and  the  multitude  of  guests  had  taken  their  places 
around  the  two  long  double  rows  of  tables,  which  were  steaming  with 
savory  viands,  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of 
Sparta,  rose  and  said:  'Valiant  guests  from  near  and  far,  the  beasts 
of  the  fields  and  forests,  as  well  as  other  creatures  that  live  and  move 
cannot  thank  the  gods  for  their  existence  and  meals,  for  they  cannot 
realize  that  all  things  are  created  through  the  wish  of  the  gods.  But 
man,  only  man,  has  been  endowed  with  a  god-like  flame,  which  gives 
him  power  to  rule  over  all — even  the  strongest  of  creatures.  The  world 
and  the  fullness  thereof,  have  the  gods  placed  at  the  disposal  of  man. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  201 

The  gift  to  man  of  this  god-like  flame  makes  him  conscious  of  the  gods ; 
and  so  it  is  fitting  for  us  Grecians  to  display  that  consciousness  by 
giving  thanks  and  sacrifice,  thus  showing  our  appreciation  of  the  gifts 
so  bountifully  bestowed  upon  us,  the  first  of  which  is  life,  and,  we  may 
say,  the  next — this  tempting  banquet  board  before  us !  May  our  priest 
Zeothynius  now  proceed.' 

"The  priest  stood  on  a  small  platform  near  the  King,  with  a  small 
table  at  his  side,  on  which  shone  two  brilliant  bronze  tripods,  one  Spar 
tan,  and  one  Athenian. 

"Priest  Zeothynius  said:  'Renowned  Guests!  Before  partaking  of 
this  or  any  banquet,  of  the  inviting,  savory  viands  so  bountifully 
spread  before  us,  it  is  fitting  to  indicate  our  appreciation  to  its  real 
givers,  by  offering  thanks  and  sacrifice  to  the  gods. 

"  'Also  must  our  hearts  and  minds  feel  partial  to  Chloris  (Flora)  for 
these  beautiful  blossoms ;  to  Pomona  for  these  tasty  fruits,  and  to  Deme- 
ter  (Ceres)  for  our  bread  of  corn  and  grain  and  for  the  firstlings  of 
sheep  and  fowls.  It  is  not  for  us  mortals  only  to  partake  of  these 
steaming,  savory  viands  which  grace  this  sumptuous  banquet  board; 
the  gods  also  must  partake  thereof.  For  the  givers  to  look  down  upon 
this  sumptuous  banquet  without  an  offering  to  them  would  not  make 
us  worthy  of  bearing  the  name  of  our  heroic  forefathers.  Our  Olym 
pian  gods  will  not  come  directly  among  us.  We  mortals  may  not  be 
honored  by  their  presence  at  this  feast.  It  is  for  us  to  have  a  small 
share  of  the  viands  etherealized  through  the  sacrificial  flame,  thus  to 
ascend  to  the  Olympian  gods  on  high.  Thus  will  they  also  partake  of 
this  banquet  and  receive  our  acknowledgment  for  the  bounteous  share 
allotted  to  us.  Servers  of  the  gods !  (Addressing  seven  Spartan  Youths.) 
Select  from  these  boards,  a  small  part  from  the  firstlings  of  meats  and 
fruits  and  place  the  same  on  the  square  pile  of  logs  which  you  have 
erected  and  start  the  sacrificial  flame.  Youths,'  said  the  priest,  'know 
you  the  sacrificial  flame  etheralizes  the  viands  you  have  placed  as 
burnt  offerings  to  the  gods  into  vapor,  so  they  can  arise  and,  as  sweet 
savor,  be  partaken  of  by  the  gods.' 

"The  sacrificial  flames  soon  enveloped  the  pile  of  dry  logs.  The 
viands  were  placed  on  it  and  when  in  fullest  blaze,  Zeothynius  pro 
ceeded  to  the  pile  and  added  wheat,  rye,  corn  and  barley  to  the  flames, 
also  libations  of  wine. 

"After  lighting  the  Spartan  and  Athenian  tripods,  Zeothynius  re 
turned  to  the  banquet  board  and  said:  'Let  us  pray:  Zeus,  god  of 
gods !  Olympian  gods  all,  we  thank  ye  for  the  privilege  ye  have  vouch 
safed  unto  us — the  privilege  of  beholding  the  glorious  sun  and  all 
the  beautiful  things  it  so  brilliantly  illumines.  We  thank  ye,  O  gods, 
for  the  privilige  of  living  in  an  epoch  which  in  various  ways 
led  our  noble  Athenian  guests  to  these  shores,  thus  forming  this 


202  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

never-to-be-forgotten  beautiful  Athenian- Spartan  festal  day,  its  friendly 
games  and  this  sumptuous  banquet.  The  strenuous  teachings  of  our 
Spartan  forefathers,  O  gods,  our  guests  also  have  followed  and  held 
sacred,  and  with  teeming  health,  courage,  strength  and  beauty  have  ye 
also  blessed  them. 

"  'As  the  sweet  incense,  O  gods,  arising  from  the  Athenian  and  the 
Spartan  tripod  is  now  intermingling  in  its  ascent  to  your  high  Olympian 
abode,  so,  too,  O  gods,  have  our  hearts  and  hands,  this  day,  intermin 
gled  in  friendly  games,  contests,  songs,  and  applause.  We  pray,  O  gods ! 
May  this  festal  day  strengthen  our  Athenian-Spartan  unity,  for  the 
welfare  and  glory,  in  war,  peace  and  commerce  of  our  respective  lands. 
O  gods,  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  let  our  choice  offerings  of  incense 
and  sacrifice  which  are  now  ascending  with  the  sacrificial  flames,  be  as 
sweet  ambrosia  and  nectar  unto  ye  and  deign  to  receive  it  in  the  same 
spirit  of  appreciation  as  is,  O  gods,  this  sumptuous  banquet  with  which 
ye  have  so  lavishly  favored  us  on  this  Athenian-Spartan  festal  day.' 

"The  priest  concluded  by  saying :  'Noble  guests,  we  may  now  proceed 
to  partake  of  the  blessings  so  bounteously  placed  before  us.' 

"The  savory  viands  with  which  the  long,  double  rows  of  tables  were 
laden,  were  partaken  of  with  a  relish  only  known  to  true  athletes.  Upon 
passing  around  Spartan  wine  in  large  drinking  horns,  Nestorius,  holding 
up  a  gracefully  curved  horn,  said :  'Fellow  guests,  this  sparkling  Spar 
tan  wine  cheers  both  gods  and  men.  May  I  ask  all  to  rise  as  a  sign 
of  Spartan-Athenian  unity.  May  all  of  us  upon  the  passing  of  the 
sparkling  wine  at  this  moment  quaff  the  god-like  nectar  to  the  power, 
greatness  and  glory  of  Spartan-Athenian  unity — to  the  glory  of  all 
Greece.' 

"After  shouts  and  cheers  for  unity,  in  which  all  joined  with  enthusi 
asm,  all  resumed  their  seats  again. 

"Several  other  similar  toasts  were  given,  ending  with  joyous  cheer 
ing. 

"Prince  Gyphodus  said :  'Noble  Guests !  May  our  hearts  and  minds 
unite  as  does  the  frankincense  arising  from  our  Spartan- Athenian  tripods 
for  the  greatness  and  glory  of  a  united  Athens  and  Sparta.'  (Loud 
cheering. ) 

"Diagorax,  Athenian,  said :  'May  we  drain  the  horn  to  its  last  drop 
to  the  health  of  the  whole  Spartan  people  who  have  contributed  to  make 
our  short  sojourn  so  boundlessly  entertaining  and  happy.'  (Great  ap 
plause.  ) 

"Pindarus  said :  'Fellow  Greeks,  may  we  rise  in  honor  and  in  mem 
ory  of  the  comradeship  that  existed  between  our  heroic  forefathers  on 
the  battlefield  of  Troy,  and  drain  the  horn  with  prayer  and  well  wishes 
for  their  welfare  in  the  shades  below,  where  among  the  noblest  there  we 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  203 

know  that  the  souls  of  our  departed  hero  forefathers  who  fought  to 
gether  at  Troy,  dwell.' 

"No  cheers  were  given,  but  as  with  one  earnest  voice  all  agreed :  'So 
may  it  be!' 

"Leonidicus,  Spartan,  said: 

"Drink  we  the  sparkling  wine — To  The  Glory  of  Greece  that  Was, 
To  the  Glory  of  Greece  that  Is;  to  the  Greater  Glory  that  is  to  Come. 
Come,  let  us  empty  the  drinking  horn, 
To  the  glory  of  Grecians  yet  unborn."  (Great  applause.) 

"A  number  of  other  toasts  by  Spartans  and  Athenians  were  given, 
but  at  the  draining  of  so  many  drinking  horns,  we  scribes  must  admit 
that  our  memory  and  eyes  were  somewhat  affected,  so  that  we  did  not 
see  or  catch  all  that  was  done  or  said.  Thus  a  hiatus  took  place. 

"But  we  can  now  again  begin  to  attempt  to  record  a  part  of  what 
transpired  near  the  close  of  the  banquet. 

"Nosthordon,  Spartan,  arose  and  said:  'Fellow  guests,  we  are  told 
that  our  Athenian  friends  have  followed  our  strenuous  Spartan  training. 
Upon  observation  I  feel  like  venturing  to  say:  in  time  our  Athenian 
friends  may  succeed  to  out-Spartan  us  Spartans.  (Applause.)  Let  me 
ask  all  of  the  guests  to  refill  their  drinking  horns  with  clear  Spartan 
wine  and  to  drain  them  to  the  health  and  welfare  of  all  Grecian 
maidens.' 

"After  the  horns  were  drained,  Nosthordon  continued :  'My  attention 
has  been  drawn  to  the  large  number  of  drinking  horns  that  have  been 
emptied  and  I,  as  one,  not  belonging  to  the  young,  will  simply  call  atten 
tion  to  the  effect  which  too  many  horns  may  lead  to.  Too  many  curved 
horns  of  wine  may  have  the  effect  of  making  all  things  look  curved  like 
the  horn  and  in  some  instances  among  us  men,  the  boisterous  spirits  of 
the  animal  from  which  the  horns  are  taken  are  liable  to  enter  our  heads 
and  the  desirable  harmony  that  has  prevailed  so  far  this  day  threatened. 
We  have,  at  other  feasts,  seen  men  who  drained  too  many  horns — become 
boisterous,  running  about  and  roaring  like  the  animals  on  which  the 
horns  -grew,  acting  as  wild  and  uncontrollable,  and  they,  just  like  those 
wild,  boisterous  animals,  had  to  be  taken  to  an  enclosure  to  secure  them 
from  doing  harm  until  the  animal  spirit  had  evaporated. 

"  'This,  as  a  man  who  is  far  from  being  young,  I  only  refer  to  it  as 
a  timely  warning  hint.'  (Applause.) 

"Gracio,  our  Athenian  master  of  games,  said :  'Fellow  Grecians  !  We 
all  know  that  when  Achilles  skulked  in  his  tent  because  the  great 
Agamemnon  had  deprived  him  of  his  maiden  Briseis,  Patroclus,  in  the 
Greek's  direst  need  went  forth  clad  in  Achilles'  armor,  to  battle  against 
the  Trojans ;  and  great  was  the  slaughter  he  caused  among  the  Trojans, 
driving  them  back  close  up  to  the  Trojan  walls.  But  alas !  He  heeded 


204  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

not  Achilles'  advice  not  to  follow  the  Trojans  too  near  to  their  walls ;  and 
he  was  killed  by  Hector.  We  also  remember  that  it  was  your  brave 
Spartan  Menelaus  (applause),  with  the  assistance  of  the  powerful  son 
of  Telamon  (Ajax),  that  the  body  of  Patroclus  was  rescued  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  Trojans.  Patroclus,  as  it  came  down  to  us  from 
our  heroic  ancestors,  was  Achilles'  dearest  friend.  Achilles  mourned 
and  grieved  deeply.  For  Patroclus  alive,  nothing  more  could  be  done; 
but  for  Patroclus  dead,  nothing  too  great  to  do  him  honor  should  be  left 
undone.  Patroclus'  body  was  first  placed  on  a  funeral  pyre  to  which 
sacrifice  of  various  kinds  were  added,  and  consumed  by  the  flames.  His 
ashes  were  then  placed  in  a  golden  urn. 

"  'Achilles  said  that  he  knew  that  he  also  was  fated  to  die  on  the 
field  of  battle  and  in  that  event  ordered  that  his  ashes  should  also  be 
placed  in  the  same  urn  with  that  of  his  dearest  friend,  Patroclus. 

"  'Achilles  in  sight  of  Patroclus'  funeral  pyre,  instituted  games  to  the 
honor  of  his  departed  friend. 

"  'It  is  this  day's  games  that  recalls  the  funeral  games  that  were 
held  in  honor  of  Patroclus.  There  took  place  chariot  races,  wrestling, 
archery,  lance-casting,  cagstus-combat,  foot  races,  discus  hurling  and 
other  games.  Achilles  called  out  the  games  himself,  and  announced 
which  prize  the  winners  would  gain.  It  comes  down  to  us  from  our 
heroic  forefathers  that  brave  Meriones  was  victor  in  archery.  Poly- 
paetes,  in  discus-hurling;  the  great  Tydides  won  the  chariot  race; 
Epeus  was  victor  in  the  single  combat  with  csestus.  It  was  he,  Epeus, 
who  made  the  wooden  horse  in  which  the  Greeks  entered  Troy.  Ulysses 
was  victor  of  the  foot  race. 

"  'Thus  did  Achilles  by  instituting  the  funeral  games  in  honor  of  his 
dearest  friend,  Patroclus,  do  all  that  mortal  man  can  do  for  a  de 
parted  friend. 

"  'This  day's  games  also  recall  to  memory  the  fact  known  to  us  all,  that 
cur  heroic  Grecian  forefathers  also  took  part  in  those  funeral  games, 
but  each  contingent  could  not  show  up  a  victor  because  the  number  of 
games  were  limited,  thus  making  it,  as  in  all  games,  impossible  to  dis 
play  their  various  kinds  of  skill  and  strength.  But  what  a  difference 
between  the  conditions  under  which  those  funeral  games  and  the  games 
held  at  this  Spartan-Athenian  festal  day !  At  the  funeral  games,  all  was 
sadness  and  sorrow — a  melancholy  joy.  This  day's  games  is  gilded  with 
sunshine,  under  which  boundless  mirth  and  cheerfulness  hold  unbridled 
sway — not  a  melancholy  joy,  but  a  cheerful  joy  and  gladness.  I  may 
add: 

Not  much  laughter  at  those  games  was  heard, 
For  the  hearts — all  with  great  sadness  stirred — 
Were  beclouded  with  the  thoughts  of  him 
Who  had  crossed  the  deadly  river's  brim ; 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  205 

"Crossed  the  river,"  great  Achilles  said, 
"Brave  Patroclus,  'mong  the  noble  dead; 

O,  he  was  as  if  a  part  of  me, 

Dearest  friend!    O,  that  he  should  flee 

To  the  ghosts  that  hither  flit  and  go 

In  the  dismal  dreary  shades  below !" 
"Raise  the  funeral  pyre,"  Achilles  said, 

Honor  him, — Patroclus,  who  now  dead, 

Place  his  dust  in  this  bright  golden  urn. 

Mine,  O,  too,  it  soon  shall  hold  in  turn. 

For  the  Fates  have  spoken  it  quite  plain, 
"Brave  Achilles,  not  long  thou  canst  remain. 

Myrmidons,  and  all  you  Grecians,  all, 

Listen  to  each  herald's  doleful  call. 

Bring  the  steeds  and  chariots  for  the  race, 
For  the  funeral  games  shall  now  take  place; 
Games  to  show  each  different  strength  and  skill, 
Games  to  honor  him  who  now  lies  still — 
Cold  and  lifeless  on  the  funeral  pyre, 
Turned  to  dust  by  sacrificial  fire. 

While  in  many  contests  here  we  play, 
Brave  Patroclus  winds  his  weary  way 
To  the  endless  dreary  shades  below, 
Where,  alas !   we  mortals  all  must  go. 

"Gracio  continued:  'Fellow  Athletes!  Having  been  appointed  as 
master  of  this  day's  games  for  the  Athenians,  it  may  be  proper  for  me 
to  ask,  and  also  to  answer  questions  pertaining  to  games.  What  are 
the  objects  of  athletic  games?  Are  they  for  public  pleasure,  pastime, 
recreation  or  enjoyment?  Yes!  Are  they  for  the  purpose  of  creating 
an  occasion  at  which  friends  from  far  and  near  can  meet  and  also  to 
extend  their  friendship  and  their  acquaintance — extend  the  brotherhood 
of  man?  Yes!  Do  the  gods  in  whose  honor  they  are  held  show  their 
appreciation  by  favoring  the  nation  who  thus  honors  them?  Yes!  Does 
the  meeting  of  a  large  concourse  of  people  from  different  states  have  a 
tendency  to  dispel  hate,  envy  and  animosity,  strangeness  and  suspicion 
between  them  and  lead  to  a  general  feeling  of  oneness,  of  unity — leading 
to  alliances,  and  thus  making  our  Greek  states  so  strong  that  we  need 
not  stand  in  fear  of  the  Asiatic  hordes  that  threaten  to  overrun  our 
native  Greece?  Yes !  One  may  say : 

When  Greek  joins  Greek  in  battle  array 

It  can  but  lead  to  Victory ; 

The  enemy  then  is  swept  away, 

Like  chaff  before  the  wind.  (Applause.) 

"  'Do  the  games  and  contests  serve  to  create  enthusiasm  among  a  peo 
ple  for  strenuous  training  which  develops  both  body  and  mind  to  the 
highest  capability?  Yes!  Is  not  our  life  singly  a  constant  battle,  and 
are  not  all  such  who  develop  body  and  mind,  as  taught  by  the  games 


206  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  contests,  far  more  able  to  fight  life's  battle  than  they  otherwise 
would  be?  Yes !  Do  not  the  games  and  contests  in  a  state  develop  its 
youth  and  men  into  real  defenders  and  conquerors,  into  matchless  war 
riors  and  heroes?  Yes !  Do  not  the  games  and  contests  add  in  a  way  to 
the  nobility  of  man?  Yes. 

"  'Fellow  Grecians !  Endless  are  the  reasons  for  the  holding  of  these 
games  for  the  individual  as  well  as  for  the  state.  These  games,  for 
many  reasons,  are  truly  sacred  to  the  gods  and  truly  do  the  gods  favor 
those  states  who  hold  them  in  their  honor.  May  it  ever  be  our  fervent 
prayer  to  Hercules  that  our  Grecian  games  may  never  fall  into  desue 
tude  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  the  enthusiasm  for  games  and  contests 
may  be  maintained  from  generation  to  generation.  Fellow  Grecians,  I 
move  that  we  give  seven  cheers  for  athletic  games  and  contests.' " 
All  arose  and  gave  the  cheers  as  proposed. 

At  this  stage  of  the  feast,  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of 
the  King  of  Sparta,  arose  and  said :  "Fellow  Grecians !  May  we  listen 
to  a  few  words  of  one  of  our  health  officers." 

Hygeiontos  arose  and  said :  "Noble  Grecians,  our  ancestors,  genera 
tions  ago,  held  feasts  in  honor  of  Bacchus,  but  they  allowed  such  feasts 
many  moons  ago  to  pass  into  desuetude.  It  comes  down  to  us  that 
those  bacchanalian  feasts  almost  always  ended  in  discord,  often  in 
bloodshed  and  death.  At  such  feasts,  he  who  could  drink  the  most,  who 
emptied  the  largest  number  of  horns,  displayed  the  greatest  reckless 
courage,  regardless  of  friend  or  foe,  was  looked  upon  by  many  as  a  great 
hero.  Often  it  came  to  pass  that  such  feasts  ended  in  what  one  might 
call  a  small  battle  unto  death  between  the  revelers.  Now,  as  a  health 
officer,  allow  me  to  announce,  although  it  is  not  really  necessary  to 
announce  it,  that  this  is  not  a  bacchanalian  feast.  We  also,  at  this 
feast,  indulge  in  the  clear  sparkling  wine;  but  our  health  laws  have 
taught  us  to  be  governed  by  thoughtful  moderation  in  all  things.  It 
comes  down  to  us  that  in  past  bacchanalian  feasts,  it  often  happened 
that  a  large  number,  through  lack  of  moderation,  became  boisterous,  in 
sanely  hilarious,  and  ran  around,  roaring  like  the  beasts  from  which 
the  horns  from  which  they  had  drunk  were  taken.  I  will  not  deliberate, 
but  will  only  add  that  one  of  our  Spartan  philosophers  said :  Tut  your 
ear  to  the  drinking  horn  and  you  will  hear  it  say :  "Moderation !  Mod 
eration  !  Moderation !" '  Therefore  at  this  stage  of  our  banquet,  the 
drinking  horns  will  not  be  refilled  with  wine,  removing  further  tempta 
tion  and  protecting  us  from  dethroning  the  senses  given  to  us  by  our 
gods.  I  will  only  add: 

"Oft  the  sense,  the  gods  have  given, 

From  its  eminence  is  driven 

By  drinking  horns  of  many  a  kind, 

When  drinking  thoughtless,  without  mind. 

Moderation,  well  'tis  known, 

Hygeia's  grand  foundation  stone."  (Great  applause.) 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  207 

"Drinking  horns  are  an  ornament  and  add  to  the  good  cheer  of  a 
banquet — where  the  guests  thoughtfully  discriminate  between  use  and 
abuse." 

Borodius  (Spartan)  arose  and  said:  "Noble  Grecians'  As  the  sun 
stays  not  in  its  course  and  Captain  Arteus  must  be  getting  very  impa 
tient,  and  as  a  number  of  our  Spartan  bards  and  poets  have  in  great 
haste  taken  their  lyres  from  the  peg,  invoked  the  Muses,  bestrode  winged 
Pegasus  to  dubious  heights,  the  result  being  a  number  of  triumphal  odes 
in  praise  of  victors  in  the  games,  it  has  been  decided  that  the  odes 
shall  be  read.  I  am  to  be  the  last  speaker  at  this  banquet  and  am  to 
announce  that  at  the  conclusion  of  my  remarks,  a  Grecian  dance  will 
take  place  on  the  green  here  and  soon  after,  the  blowing  of  horns  will 
be  a  sign  for  all  to  fall  in  line  under  command  of  noble  Marstenes  to 
march  down  to  the  grand  ship.  Speaking  of  ship  reminds  me,  adven 
turous  guests!  that  Theseus,  one  of  the  Athenian  heroes  of  past  ages, 
son  of  King  Aegus,  sailed  upon  a  voyage  of  adventure,  whereupon  it 
was  agreed  that  if  his  ship  returned  successfully,  a  white  flag  should  be 
displayed  from  the  ship's  topmost  mast  out  on  the  sea,  upon  his  ap 
proach.  But  through  his  many  adventures  he  forgot  his  promise,  and 
when,  from  the  Acropolis  at  Athens,  King  Aegus  did  not  descry  a  flag 
at  sea,  waving  from  the  ship's  mast,  he  flung  himself  from  the  rock 
and  died. 

"I  only  allude  to  this,  believing  that  it  is  not  impossible  that  your 
much  greater  ship,  upon  sighting  land,  upon  your  return  to  Athens,  may 
also  have  promised  to  display  some  sign  of  your  ship's  success ;  and  if 
you  also  prove  as  forgetful,  the  eager  watchers  on  the  Acropolis  would 
be  in  a  fearful  state  of  suspense. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  the  blood  of  the  adventurous  Theseus,  who 
became  King  of  Athens  on  the  death  of  his  father,  must  also  be  cours 
ing  through  your  veins.  He  was  a  noble,  daring  King ;  and  in  speaking 
of  you,  if  you  will  allow  it,  there  is  something  even  beyond  strength, 
courage,  and  graceful  bearing  that  calls  forth  immediate  admiration 
by  all.  It  is  something  indefinable — it  speaks  of  nobility, — and  it  is 
simply  nobility.  It  is  easier  recognized  than  defined.  It  is  a  something 
that  sets  you  forth  as  a  superior  class;  a  something  inherited  from 
your  forefathers  through  the  grace  of  the  gods.  Being  conscious  of  such 
a  fact,  your  actions  are  guided  so  as  to  be  worthy  of  yourselves.  But  I 
must  hasten  and  read  from  parchment  scrolls,  the  odes  written  in  honor 
of  the  victors  of  this  day's  games."  (Applause.) 

Borodius  read: 

Here,  with  hills  encompassed  round, 
With  tapering  spruce,  so  stately  crowned, 
This  level  field,  a  place  for  mirth, 
Athletic  sport  by  men  of  worth, 
By  men  of  worth,  was  held  this  day 


208  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

With  noble  maids,  adorned  the  play. 

Field  Hercules,  this  ground  is  named, 

He  now  a  god ;  for  he  was  famed 

For  wondrous  strength  and  courage  bold 

While  still  a  mortal — so  we're  told. 

Thus,  consecrated  is  this  ground 

With  hillocks  circling  well  around 

To  Hercules,  who  now  a  god, 

Although  his  frame  rests  'neath  the  sod, 

With  mirth  and  song,  rejoicing  loud, 

Athenian-Spartan  noble  crowd, 

'Tis  meet,  though  lowering  is  the  sun, 

To  shortly  speak  of  victories  won. 

And  first  'tis  meet  that  we  should  name 

The  flowers  that  adorned  the  game. 

The  games  began ;    there  first  took  place 

The  maidens'  running  swift  foot  race; 

Forth  they  came — graceful — tall, 

Athenian-Spartan  maidens  all. 

There  they  stood  in  one  long  line, 

Fair  and  shapely,  bloom  divine; 

Mind  and  body  rich  in  grace, 

Each  one  standing  at  her  place. 

Right  foot  forward  on  the  line, 

Waiting  for  the  starting  sign. 

Long,  long  line,  in  graceful  pose, 

Clad  in  tight  athletic  clothes. 

Years  will  come  and  years  will  go, 

But  our  memories  all  will  know 

And  recall  the  long,  long  line — 

Limbs  well  rounded — forms  divine; 

Hands  and  feet  well-shaped  and  small, 

Gradual  tapering  over  all. 

Now  the  word  will  soon  be  said, 

Goalward  only  looks  each  head ; 

Eyes  and  muscle  on  the  strain, 

Eager  all  the  crown  to  gain; 

Arms  in  pose  and  listening  all 

For  the  judge's  signal  call. 

There  they  rush !   The  sign's  been  given  • 

Onward  as  by  storm-cloud  driven, 

As  the  leaves  in  Autumn  fly — 

O'er  the  fields  and  through  the  sky. 

Onward  o'er  the  fields  they  bound, 

Swiftly  flying  o'er  the  ground; 

Like  a  swallow  without  rest, 

Seeking  straw  to  build  a  nest. 

Here  and  there  some -feel  the  ground, 

Such  will  surely  not  be  crowned; 

Ranks  no  more  can  now  be  seen — 

Greatly  parted  o'er  the  green — 

Onward  hundreds  speed  in  vain, 

For  'tis  one  alone  can  gain. 

Back  they  come,  the  foremost  swift, 

Stirring  up  a  sand  cloud  drift. 


The  Shift  Lands  at  Gythium  209 

Broken  ranks  of  shortened  length, 
Putting  forth  their  utmost  strength. 
Oft  one  hears  some  one  put  in : 
"Oh,  I  wish  they  all  could  win!" 
Now  between,  'tis  three  or  four — 
Now  again  'tis  several  more. 
But  a  maiden,  blonde  and  tall, 
Seems  to  overreach  them  all. 
Now  'tis  two  just  side  by  side; 
All  the  rest  are  parting  wide 
In  the  rear.    And,  oh,  how  slow 
All  the  others  seem  to  go! 
Now  the  other  maid's  ahead, 
"She's  the  winner"   (oft  'twas  said)  ; 
But  the  maiden,  blonde  and  fair, 
Girds  her  strength,  with  none  to  spare — 
Rushes  o'er  the,  line — falls  down ! — 
Thus  she  won  the  olive  crown, 
Fairly,  squarely,  on  this  day, 
Maiden  fair,  of  Attica! 
Armithene — Noble  Maid! 
,  Placed  all  others  in  the  shade. 

Maid  of  Athens,  noble,  free; 
Endless  lays  will  honor  thee — 
Lays  in  words  of  praise  be  sung 
By  the  old  and  by  the  young ; 
Sung  in  choruses  sublime, 
Sung  throughout  the  end  of  time.  (Applause.) 

Kalotes,  Athenian,  arose  and  read: 

Next  to  that  great  lovely  race, 
The  maiden's  archery  took  place; 
Prolific,  O,  I  must  not  be, 
For  time,  O  swiftly  does  it  flee — 
A  dove,  as  innocent  as  night. 
You  seem  alarmed!    am  I  not  right? 
Think  you  perhaps  'twill  never  do — 
Is  that  a  saying  new  to  you? 
A  dove — not  clad  with  plumage  gay 
Soared  unawares  his  aerial  way ; 
White  as  the  snow  the  north  wind  blows- 
White  as  the  purest  whitest  rose. 
Such  was  the  frightened  living  mark. 
Around  it  stood  the  blonde,  the  dark 
Of  hair,  and  each  with  bow  and  dart 
Embellished  fine  as  works  of  art. 
Around  it  stood  in  circle  wide 
Full  twenty  of  our  nation's  pride. 
Up  flies  the  dove  from  box  released — 
But,  O,  alas!    its  flight  soon  ceased. 
The  arrows  follow  in  swift  pace, 
Each  eager  is  its  blood  to  taste ; 
Lifeless  it  falleth  on  the  ground — 
Who  is  it  now  that  shall  be  crowned? 


210  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

The  judges  saw  and  were  surprised, 
'Twas  hard  for  each  to  believe  his  eyes ; 
One  held  it  up  high  to  the  view 
Of  the  vast  multitude,  who  knew 
From  thence  its  certain  cause  of  death — 
Three  arrows  had  cut  off  its  breath. 
The  judges  looked  the  maidens  round, 
Each  arrow's  owner  then  was  found. 
Eudene,  Neothia,  Sparta's  side, 
With  Leone,  our  Athens'  pride, 
Their  arrows  in  the  dove  had  dyed. 
The  judges  looked  around  and  said : 
"Three  olive  crowns — one  for  each  head." 

O  Muses  of  the  song  and  Lyre, 

O  Muses,  lend  our  poets  fire, 

To  laud  in  song,  our  maidens  three, 

So  proudly  graced  with  victory.  (Applause. ) 

Kalotes  continued  to  read: 

Now,  thirdly,  came  the  contest  with  the  lance 

Above  all  others,  lend  such  contest  chance 

For  gracefulness  and  pose  to  please  the  eye; 

Full  forty  maidens  in  that  game  did  vie. 

With  graceful  helmets  arching  o'er  each  head, 

The  crest  of  which,  with  horsehair  was  o'erspread; 

Their  bodies  clad  in  tight  athletic  clothes 

Brought  to  the  eye,  each  movement  and  each  pose. 

First  marching  in  a  widespread  double  row 

Through  angles  and  through  mazy  circles  go ; 

With  balanced  spear  held  high  above  the  head — 

Each  shapely  form  with  proud,  elastic  tread, 

Presenting  to  the  long,  admiring  view 

A  picture  fair  for  artists — ever  new. 

Now  all  in  line,  a  distance  from  the  ring 

They  take  their  stand,  the  slender  lance  to  swing; 

One  at  a  time — with  right  foot  on  the  line, 

The  left  foot  back — thus  stood  each  form  divine. 

The  lance  with  backward  arm,  in  strenuous  pose, 

Well-balanced,  with  full  strength,  each  ringward  throws. 

Ten  chances  casts,  to  each  fair  maid  was  given, 

And  when  a  lance,  clear  through  the  ring  was  driven, 

Oh,  how  the  multitude  with  cheers  loud 

Rent  the  air,  re-echoing  from  the  cloud. 

The  crowd,  it  thought  it  knew  the  victor's  name — 

The  name  that  should  succeed  to  highest  fame — 

For  only  one  remained,  the  spear  to  cast: 

A  fair  Athenian,  she,  of  all,  the  last. 

'Tis  now  her  turn — with  pointed  spear  in  hand, 

She  passes  'long  the  line  and  takes  her  stand. 

She  hesitates  a  while,  her  mind  doth  say: 

"I  must  do  better  than  the  best,  this  day." 
Impatience  shows  itself  among  the  crowd 
And  then  'tis  often  heard  in  accents  loud; 

"Fair  maiden,  let  your  arm  this  day  take  rest; 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  211 

For  vain  it  is  to  try  to  beat  the  best" 

Spurned  by  the  words  to  higher  action  still, 

Her  lance  arose,  and  with  exquisite  skill 

The  lance  it  flew  as  if  upon  the  wing — 

Clear  through  its  mark — the  brilliant  ring. 

Faint  cheers  arose,  in  compliment,  we  know — 

The  record  made,  she  never  could  o'erthrow. 

Again  was  poised  the  well-aimed  slender  spear— 

Again  it  flew  with  bird-like  swiftness,  clear 

Through  the  ring.     Then  oft,  one  heard  it  said: 
"That  olive  crown,  as  yet  knows  not  its  head." 

In  quick  succession  now,  she  cast  the  lance 

Oft  through  the  ring;  with  now  just  one  last  chance. 

She's  even  now  with  Sparta's  favorite  fair — 

Again  the  lance  is  aimed  with  skillful  care. 

She  looked  around  and  smiled,  as  if  to  say : 
"I  feel  that  I'll  be  crowned  upon  this  day." 

Suspense  held  all  as  if  in  a  great  trance. 

'Tis  now  the  last — the  only,  only  chance. 

The  spear  has  left  the  maiden's  shapely  hand — 

Straight  through  the  ring,  it  flies  upon  the  sand. 

'Midst  endless  cheering — shouting  all  around, 
The  judges  lift  the  spear  from  off  the  ground; 
Upon  its  shaft  they  read:  Miss  Milites — 
Thus  it  will  honor  and  will  ever  please 
Athenians  all,  to  hear  that  she  was  crowned 
In  lovely  song,  upon  our  Spartan  Ground. 

Athenian  maid!    Our  bards  will  ever  sing 

Of  Milites,  your  lance  and  of  the  ring; 

Will  laud,  in  voiceful,  charming,  endless  lays 

Your  victory  grand  unto  the  last  of  days. 

Will  sing  so  people  who  are  yet  unborn 

Will  know  how  sparkling-  eyes  O  did  adorn 

Upon  her  head  the  victor's  Olive  crown 

So  proudly  won  at  Sparta's  seaport  town. 

Surer  far  than  wrought  in  hardened  stone — 

O  Milites!  to  fame  your  name  be  known!  (Applause.) 

Spartonicus  arose  and  read: 

Now,  fourthly,  took  place  the  men's  foot-race. 
And  here  on  the  plain,  near  Gythium  Town, 
Three  hundred  swift  runners  all  ran  for  the  crown — 
A  crown  of  dark  laurel — in  each  runner's  eyes 
More  valued  than  gold  is  its  wealth  as  a  prize. 
In  a  long  row  they  stood,  awaiting  command; 
Each  with  his  right  foot  on  a  line  in  the  sand — 
And  now  they  are  off,  like  the  rush  of  a  storm, 
Three  hundred  are  straining  their  feat  to  perform; 
The  dust  in  the  distance  envelopes  the  view 
And  now  come  to  sight,  the  first,  fleetest  few. 
Returning,  they  rush — some  here  and  some  there — 
Each  striving  to  gain,  with  the  strength  of  despair, 
The  goal  line,  from  whence  the  race  first  began — 


212  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Out  of  the  great  number  but  few  lead  the  van. 
But  we  must  be  brief,  and  so  I  must  tell, 
Sparta's  Pedometes  first  o'er  the  line  fell. 
Then  followed  Legardus  at  most  equal  pace — 
Thus  won  were  the  crowns  of  the  noble  foot-race. 

Athenians  and  Spartans,  we  both  may  feel  proud; 
For  the  fame  of  our  victors  in  choruses  loud 
Will  re-echo  in  rhyme  through  the  corridors  of  time 
In  words  of  great  praise,  to  the  end  of  all  days. 

Pedometes !    Legardus !    Your  fame  stands  secure, 
In  songs  of  our  poets  'twill  live  and  endure, 
So  new  generations  your  deeds  will  applaud — 
Will  praise  and  will  sing  of  you  each  as  a  god. 

Spartonicus  continued: 

Fifthly  came  the  jumping  contest. 

Laconius,  Spartan,  leaped  to  fame, 
And  thus,  forever  will  his  name 
In  leaping,  measured  joyful  sound, 
Resound  how  nobly  he  was  crowned. 

Sixthly,  'tis  known, 
Was  putting  the  stone. 

"The  gods  are  seldom  so  partial  as  to  shower  all  gifts  upon  one  per 
son.  For  some  are  superior  in  power  of  neck ;  some  in  fingers  and 
hands;  some  in  legs,  some  in  shoulder,  spine,  voice,  eyes,  mind,  teeth, 
feet,  and  divers  ways.  He  who  wins  a  crown  at  a  foot  race,  may  stand 
at  the  foot  in  archery.  He  that  is  victor  in  a  swimming  contest  is  un 
able  to  obtain  the  crown  as  a  spearsman. 

"Thus  in  this  wise  have  the  gods  decreed  that  the  victories  shall  be 
distributed  among  mortal  men.  Now,  when  we  observe  a  contest  in  put 
ting  the  weight,  we  look  back  to  past  years,  and  Ajax,  the  war  compan 
ion  of  our  heroic  Athenian  and  Spartan  ancestors  who  fought  at  Troy, 
comes  to  view.  Ajax,  son  of  Telamon  and  Periboea,  was  born  at  the 
prayer  of  Hercules  in  behalf  of  his  friend  Telamon.  Now  'tis  known 
that  among  the  many  Greek  contingents  at  Troy,  Stentor  possessed  the 
most  powerful  voice,  and  so  Ajax  possessed  superior  strength  of  body 
over  all  others.  Stones  of  vast  weight,  he  would  throw,  which  others 
could  not  even  raise  from  the  ground.  Ajax  was  not  dexterous  or  skill 
ful,  but  whereas  in  putting  the  stone  great  massive  strength  wras  re 
quired,  he  had  no  equal. 

"Noble  Athenians,  at  this  day's  weight-putting  contest,  be  it  known 
that  the  wreath  won  and  its  accompanying  hunting  horn  will  not  feel 
lonesome.  Our  powerful  Spartan  victor  Neolithicus,  holds  two  wreaths 
and  memorials  which  have  come  down  to  him  from  his  grand  and  great 
grandfathers. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  213 

"To  these  will  be  added  this  day's  laurel  crown  and  hunting  horn. 
(Great  applause.) 

"Thus  has  the  strong  blood  of  his  ancestors  enabled  him  to  step  forth 
as  a  victor  this  day — undoubtedly  due  to  the  Spartan  forethought  of  his 
progenitors.  (Applause.)  Happy  Neolithicus!  The  fame  of  your  an 
cestors  has  resounded  throughout  our  land  so  that  they  are  classed  as 
lineal  descendants  of  Hercules.  This  day's  triumph,  O  Neolithicus,  will 
move  new  bards  to  create  new  songs  of  praise;  thus  enlarging  and  pro 
longing  the  sweet,  resounding  strains  of  triumph,  to  the  pleasure  and 
honor  of  all  Sparta.  (Applause.) 

"Now,  seventhly,  came  the  discus  game: 

Of  all  the  games  we  Grecians  know, 
There's  none  that  we  delight  in  so 
As  the  hurling,  whirling  discus  game. 

To  hurl  the  discus,  flat,  thin  plate — 
To  hurl  it  farthest,  hurl  it  straight; 
'Tis  that  which  leads  to  noble  fame. 

Therefore  let  generous  praise  resound; 
For  Circularus,  laurel-crowned. 

Actorus  read: 

Eighthly,  came  the  archery  grand 
With  bow  and  arrow,  well  in  hand. 

"It  is  germane  to  the  archery  contest  to  recall  the  events  of  Ulysses 
and  his  great,  powerful  bow,  which  the  suitors  of  his  noble  spouse 
Penelope  could  not  bend;  thus  they  found  a  well  deserved  end.  The 
great  Ulysses,  son  of  King  Laertes  of  Ithaca,  while  still  a  young  prince, 
came  to  our  shores  and  married  one  of  our  beautiful  Spartan  daughters, 
Penelope,  daughter  of  King  Icarius.  The  powerful  bow  and  darts  were 
also  Spartan,  for  they  were  bestowed  upon  Ulysses  by  Iphitus  while 
visiting  our  shores — presumably  courting  Penelope,  whom  we  Spartans 
with  just  pride,  can  say,  stands  forth  to  the  whole  world  as  a  model 
spouse  for  all  time  to  come.  Our  Sparta  stands  somewhat  in  touch  with 
the  great  Ulysses,  Penelope  and  the  powerful  bow ;  therefore : 

O,  well  do  we  Spartans,  Athenians  all  know 
Of  Ulysses  the  wise,  and  his  great,  powerful  bow, 
Which  fair  Penelope  brought  to  the  suitors  and  said: 
"This  is  Ulysses'  bow — who  can  bend  it  I'll  wed." 
At  the  time,  King  Ulysses,  whom  fate  made  to  roam 
For  years  o'er  the  seas,  had  returned  to  his  home. 
Telemachus,  the  prince,  knew  his  sire  had  returned — 
Telemachus,  whose  presence  the  suitors  had  spurned. 
But  Ulysses'  fair  spouse — so  many  years  true — 
Of  Ulysses'  return,  never  dreamed  she  or  knew; 
Now  Ulysses,  unknown  to  the  suitors  and  all, 


214  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

As  an  aged  old  man,  viewed  the  grand  palace  hall ; 

There  he  saw  with  his  eyes,  with  his  heart  all  aflame, 

The  bold  revelry  of  joy,  the  voluptuous  shame. 

His  fair  spouse,  who  so  true,  through  long,  anxious  years 

Had  been  told  and  retold  not  to  shed  any  tears 

For  Ulysses,  her  king,  long  o'erwhelmed  by  the  sea. 

For  Ithaca's  proud  realm,  the  Fates  did  decree 

That  'twere  wise  to  select  from  the  suitors,  a  king. 

Thus  entreatingly,  oft  were  the  songs  they  would  sing. 

With  the  new  moon's  first  gilt  on  the  blue  vault  above 

It  was  meet  that  all  mortals  to  Phoebus  show  love; 

For  sacred  the  days  when  the  moon's  bending  light 

In  the  blue  vault  above  comes  again  first  to  sight. 

Now,  fair  Penelope  thought,  and  it  came  to  her  head 

Through  Minerva  or  Phoebus, 'tis  now  often  said, 

That  the  suitors,  each  one,  his  prowess  should  show 

With  a  swift-flying  dart,  from  Ulysses'  great  bow. 

So  the  fates  had  arranged  on  the  great  sacred  day, 

To  Phcebus,  the  archer  God,  each  should  display 

His  skill  with  the  bow  and  the  swift-flying  dart — 

Each  suitor  of  Penelope  to  take  his  due  part. 

In  the  archieves  above,  with  memorials  well  filled, 

She  found  the  great  bow,  and  when  tears  were  all  stilled 

Stepped  forth  with  the  bow,  while  with  quiver  and  dart 

Her  maids  followed  after  with  sorrowing  heart 

To  the  rich  banquet  hall,  where  the  suitors  with  songs 

And  uproarious  shouts  oft  the  night  did  prolong. 

Now  the  suitors  all  sat  'round  the  rich  banquet  board 

As  fair  Penelope  came,  standing  there  all  adored. 

She  said :   "Suitors,  I  come  to  end  a  long,  endless  strife. 

To  him,  who's  most  skillful,  I  vow  as  a  wife, 

Most  skillful  to  bend  brave  Ulysses'  great  bow 

With  such,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  I  will  go." 

The  rings  were  set  up,  as  Ulysses  had  done 

While  yet,  not  much  older  than  Telemachus,  his  son. 

The  suitors,  each  one,  I  will  not  now  name, 

For  their  revelries  and  boasts  belong  not  to  fame. 

Each  suitor  stepped  forth  with  the  strength  of  his  life 

To  bend  the  great  bow,  and  gain  the  Queen-wife. 

But,  alas!  none  succeeded  to  speed  forth  the  dart; 

Thus  a  feeling  of  anger  arose  in  each  heart. 

Then  Ulysses,  the  stranger   (Telemachus  allowed) 

Stepped  forth  with  the  bow,  'gainst  the  wish  of  the  crowd. 

But  he  handled  the  bow  with  such  strength  and  such  speed 

That  each,  every  dart  through  the  rings  did  succeed. 

Telemachus — the  few  who  were  faithful  and  true, 

Near  Ulysses,  they  stood,  to  die  and  to  do. 

In  great  rage  spoke  Ulysses  to  the  revellers  all : 
"Suitors!  I  liberty  take  past  events  to  recall! 
Know  you  who  it  was,  that  from  Ithaca  sailed? 
Know  you  who  it  was  whose  strength  never  failed 
On  Troy's  fierce  field?    Where  famed  heroes  met — 
Where  the  ground,  like  these  floors,  with  blood  is  still  wet? 
Minerva,  who  counselled  in  the  fiercest  of  fights, 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  215 

Has  whispered  to  me:    'Stand  up  for  your  rights.' 

With  her  at  my  side,  I  challenge  you  all ! 

Ulysses,  my  name,  each  suitor  must  fall !" 

And  dart  after  dart  flew  into  the  crowd, 

The  hall,  O,  resounded  with  dying  groans  loud. 

Their  struggles  against  him — they  all  seemed  in  vain, 

For  Minerva  had  counselled;  to  all  it  was  plain. 

The  suitors  all  passed  to  the  dark  shades  below — 

They're  gone,  but  themselves,  of  their  fate  cannot  know. 

Then  Penelope  flew  into  the  arms  of  her  brave, 

Who  was  wafted  ten  years  from  Troy,  on  the  wave. 

Thus  years  of  adventure  and  war  was  his  fate 

Until  twenty  years  passed,  he  regained  his  estate.  (  Applause.) 

"Fellow  Grecians !  On  this  day's  archery  contest,  great  skill  was  dis 
played.  The  first  dove  was  pierced  by  five  arrows ;  the  second  dove  was 
pierced  by  an  arrow  belonging  to  Pindarus,  an  Athenian.  The  dove,  in 
its  swift,  variable  flight,  seemed  safe  beyond  the  reach  of  all  darts ;  but 
beneath  a  cloud,  Pindarus  discerned  a  white  speck  and  it  was  his. 

Pindarus — O,  his  name  will  be 
Forever  known  on  land  and  sea. 

"Ninthly,  followed  spear-throwing,  in  which  Darades  was  victor. 
His  name  will  be  added  to  a  long  list  of  noble  spearsmen,  resounding 
with  well-earned  praise  into  far  off  distant  days. 

"Tenthly,  and  lastly,  came  the  games  to  an  end  with  a  sword  contest 
between  Marstenes  and  Hypponax.  It  was  thought  by  us  Spartans  that 
upon  your  ship's  return  to  Athens,  it  would  be  well  if  your  sculptors 
would  chisel  a  statue  from  the  finest  marble,  portraying  Marstenes  and 
Hypponax  as  we  have  witnessed  them  this  day  in  their  sword  contest 
at  the  moment  the  judges  stepped  up  to  them  to  remove  the  sword  from 
Marstenes'  arm  and  from  Hypponax's  leg.  Thus  would  two  gladiators 
stand  nobly  forth  with  the  sword  of  one  piercing  the  leg,  and  the  sword 
of  the  other  piercing  an  arm — thus  exhibiting  Athenian  and  Spartan 
dexterity  and  valor.  And  I  may  add: 

The  great  equal  contest,  O  may  it  be  shown, 
By  artists,  in  statue  of  rich,  lasting  stone. 
How  in  combat  they  stood  like  unto  death, 
With  swords  a-clashing  to  cut  off  each  breath. 
Marstenes,  Hypponax — in  true  life-like  mold, 
To  future  generations  their  bravery  be  told; 
Two  noble,  grand  forms  combined  into  one — 
No  statue  could  equal  it  under  the  sun ! 
With  sword  point  a-resting  in  the  arm  of  the  one, 
The  other's  point  resting  in  a  leg  that's  undone; 
Thus  poised,  they'd  stand  in  an  attitude  bold, 
And  thus  to  the  eye  would  the  story  be  told ; 
At  the  sight  of  which  bards  would  endlessly  sing; 
A  statue  admired  by  commoner  and  king. 


216  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"This,  'midst  great  applause,  concluded  the  Athenian-Spartan 
Games." 

Two  youthful  heralds  rushed  around  who,  with  the  blowing  of  horns 
announced  the  dance  to  follow.  The  music  of  the  Spartans  and  Athe 
nians  combined  and  also  played  alternately,  seated  on  improvised  seats 
on  the  large  banquet  tables.  The  dance  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  both 
dancers  and  spectators.  The  dances  had  brought  us  Athenians  and 
Spartans  in  closer  touch  than  any  of  the  games,  and  it  was  the  general 
regret  that  the  sun  could  not  be  stayed  in  its  course,  so  that  the  return 
to  the  ship  could  be  somewhat  delayed. 

While  looking  at  the  Athenian  Butterfly  Dance,  King  Gythio,  of 
Gythium,  by  the  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  said  to  those  near  him : 
"Truly  like  angels  are  the  dancers  this  day.  Right  was  Homer  when 
he  said  that: 

"  'Dancing  is  the  sweetest  and  most  perfect  of  human  enjoyments.' 

Marstenes,  with  bandaged  arm,  stepped  forth  and  announced :  "Athe 
nians,  Voyagers  all ;  form  in  double  line  for  the  march  to  the  ship.'' 

The  line  was  soon  in  marching  order,  preceded  by  the  Athenian  musi 
cians,  consisting  of  members  of  our  Four  Hundred;  the  Spartans  also 
following  in  endless  procession  with  Spartan  music. 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  walked  in  the  fore  part  of  the  procession, 
just  back  of  the  musicians,  holding  a  long,  slender,  bronze  tripod  with 
burning  incense  rising  in  the  air.  Our  ship's  rainbow  flag,  waving  from 
a  flag  pole,  followed  close  after.  Along  the  line  of  the  entire  procession 
the  air  resounded  with  sweet  musical  tread,  all  with  joyful  voices  sing 
ing  the  well-known  Grecian  marching  song,  beginning:  "Hercules,  O 
Hercules." 

Arriving  at  the  seashore,  near  the  ship,  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium, 
by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  standing  in  his  golden  chariot,  said : 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  a  feeling  of  joy,  created  by  your 
presence  with  us  this  day,  is  mingled  with  sadness  in  the  heart  and 
mind  of  the  multitude  here  at  your  departure.  Joyous  was  the  proces 
sion  to  the  ship,  but  it  was  tempered  with  a  feeling  of  regret  and  sad 
ness.  Upon  your  wonderful  ship's  return,  many  more  scrolls  containing 
triumphal  odes  and  songs  of  praise  will  be  presented  to  you.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  heavenly  Goddess  of  Song,  especially  upon  the  spur  of 
the  moment,  does  not  always  respond  to  the  bards'  and  poets'  invoca 
tions.  Homer  sang  his  song  of  Troy  some  moons  after  the  great  events 
had  taken  place.  So,  too,  upon  your  return  here,  many  will  be  the  new 
melodious  strains  which  will  be  presented  to  you. 

Bards,  as  yet  unborn,  will  oft  renew  the  song 
Thuswise  your  fame,  to  endless  time  prolong. 

"Let  me  add,  in  speaking  of  song—our  hearts  are  often  filled  with 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  217 

sympathy  when  we  realize  how  Ulysses  wept  on  hearing  Demodocus  sing 
at  a  banquet  with  lyre  the  story  of  Troy. 

How  his  comrade-heroes  fell, 
All  of  whom  he  knew  so  well. 

"But  let  me  proceed:  Upon  first  sight  we  could  see  that  you  had 
chosen  your  progenitors  wisely— with  great  forethought — as  we  Spar 
tans  humorously  say.  It  is  well  known  that  in  contests  and  games  only 
a  few  of  the  many  can  be  crowned.  After  your  long  journey,  upon  your 
arrival  at  Athens,  may  the  gods  decree,  it  will  first  be  seen  from  the 
Acropolis  and  immediately  be  made  known  'midst  great  rejoicing  to  the 
whole  people.  Triumphal  arches  entwined  with  garlands  and  flowers 
will  span  your  triumphal  march  into  your  native  Athens.  (Applause.) 
Great  will  be  the  rejoicing  at  Athens  and  greatly  will  all  Greece  rejoice, 
for  a  world-wonder  will  have  been  achieved.  Games  in  honor  to  Zeus, 
Athene,  Neptune  and  Aeolus,  as  well  as  to  all  the  other  gods,  will  take 
place. 

'•We  are  told  that  Venus  must  not  allow  Cupid  to  alight  on  the  grand 
ship.  To  us  it  seems  the  same  as  if  butterflies  were  not  allowed  to 
alight  in  a  flower  garden ;  which  would  seem  to  be  against  the  intention 
of  the  gods.  But  the  ship  speaks  of  great  wisdom  and  forethought  in 
all  things,  including  also  beyond  all  doubt,  the  decision  as  to  Venus' 
and  Cupid's  absence. 

"Upon  your  return  to  Athens,  we  have  no  doubt,  you  will  in  a  long 
procession,  proceed  through  the  triumphal  arches,  up  to  the  Acropolis, 
and  with  sacred  rites  to  Athene,  each  voyager  of  the  ship  be  crowned; 
not  through  the  decision  of  a  few  judges,  but  by  the  spontaneous  deci 
sion  of  the  entire  Athenian  people.  (Applause.) 

"For  surely  will  each  voyager  be  entitled  to  be  crowned  as  a 
victor  of  high  degree. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens  J  The  beauty,  majesty  and  grandeur 
of  your  ship  Aeolus  is  a  delight  to  the  eye.  with  its  hopeful,  brilliant, 
rainbow  flag  it  presents  an  imposing  sight.  The  story  of  your  landing 
here  will  be  a  delight  in  the  telling  to  generations  of  listeners- -yet  un 
born.  The  description  of  the  beautiful  scene  before  us,  even  in  ages 
to  come,  will  stir  the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  hearers. 

"Fearless  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  In  the  name  of  our  Spartan 
people,  I  thank  you  first  for  honoring  our  shores  with  the  presence  of 
your  wonderful  ship;  secondly,  I  thank  you  for  the  great  pleasure  and 
honor  your  visit  has  conferred  upon  us ;  and,  thirdly,  for  the  friendship 
renewed  this  day.  And  also  let  me  pause  to  thank  you  Noble  Four 
Hundred  of  Athens,  in  the  name  of  King  Menelaus,  sacred  to  memory, 
husband  of  the  beautiful  Helen,  in  whose  cause  your  Athenian  King 
Menestheus,  also  of  sacred  memory,  fought  so  valiantly  on  the  fields  of 
Troy.  Every  Spartan  knows  that 


218  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Full  fifty  ships  from  Athens  foamed  the  liquid  blue. 
Led  by  Menestheus,  the  valiant,  brave  and  true. 

(Great  applause.) 

At  the  conclusion  of  King  Gythio's  remarks,  Zeothynius,  Spartan 
priest,  with  incense  at  his  side,  said  in  a  solemn,  impressive  tone: 

Zeus,  on  high  Olympus  crowned, 
Thy  sight,  it  reaches  all  around 
O'er  land  and  o'er  the  deep  blue  sea 
All  things  are  seen  and  known  to  Thee. 
With  sacrifice,  O  we  implore, 
The  ship  now  lying  at  our  shore — 
O  favor  it,  so  it  again 
May  safely  sail  the  heaving  main, 
May  safely  to  its  home  return. 
Thus,  we  implore,  be  your  concern. 
Its  noble  cargo  you  behold; 
Its  beauty,  valiant,  charming,  bold — 
The  Greek  of  Greeks,  well  may  we  say, 
Who  were  our  noble  guests  this  day. 
O  we  implore  Thee  evermore, 
May  see  again  their  native  shore. 
At  Athens,  wise  Athene's  town, 
From  high  Acropolis  looking  down; 
And  may  the  gods  around  Thy  throne 
Share  in  its  welfare  as  their  own. 
Far  to  the  west,  it  yet  must  sail. 
Aeolus,  may  your  favoring  gale 
Speed  on  the  ship  and  back  again. 
O  Neptune,  o'er  your  billowy  main. 
O  God  of  gods!  we  Thee  implore, 
And  all  the  gods  that  they  adore! 
Thus  plead  we  for  our  guests  this  day 
And  thus  we  ever,  ever  pray. 

Kerdosocles,  of  our  ship's  Committee  on  Commerce,  arose  and  said: 

•'Brave  Spartans,  first  let  me  emphasize,  we  have  observed  this  day 
and  convinced  ourselves  of  one  fact,  namely :  We  Athenians  can  never 
out- Spartan  you  Spartans  for,  taken  all  in  all,  you  are  and  ever  will 
remain  superior  in  unrivaled  endurance  and  strength.  (Applause.) 

"But  I  must  proceed,  as  you  know  the  object  of  our  new  adventure 
is  Commerce.  It  has  become  known  to  us  that  the  great  wealth  and 
prosperity  of  the  Phoenician  cities,  Tyre  and  Sidon,  have  been  achieved 
by  commerce,  through  ships  sailing  to  unknown  shores,  bringing  the 
riches  of  different  shores  home  in  ships ;  that  has  made  the  Phoenicians 
rich  and  powerful. 

"The  trading  done  between  us  this  day  will  be  alike  profitable  to  us 
Athenians  and  to  you  Spartans.  For  each  has  exchanged  that  which 
the  other  has  not.  At  no  place  will  the  ship's  voyagers  engage  in  games 
and  prolonged  amusements  as  at  this,  our  first  landing.  But  we  are  on 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  219 

Grecian  ground  and  among  the  noble  friends  of  our  forefathers.     (Ap 
plause.) 

"The  barterers  and  the  large  number  of  Spartans  who  visited  our 
ship  were  welcome  and  it  was  greatly  regretted  that  noble  King  Gythio, 
of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  could  not  visit  our  ship; 
it  being  against  your  laws,  which  do  not  allow  its  kings  or  princes 
to  go  on  board  strange  or  foreign  ships. 

"Our  commercial  venture,  if  successful,  will  conduce  to  the  welfare  of 
our  whole  common  Greece.  The  friendship  formed  this  day  will  lead 
to  extended  trade  between  Sparta  and  Athens  to  the  welfare  of  each. 
It  is  superfluous  for  me  to  say  that  on  no  other  landing  will  we  meet 
with  men,  women  and  children  equal  to  Spartan  beauty,  wisdom,  courage 
and  strength.  It  is  also  unnecessary  to  say  that  this  grand  Spartan- 
Athenian  festal  day  will  be  remembered  as  the  most  happy,  joyful  day 
of  our  lives.  For  it  seems  impossible  that  any  future  day  can  equal  it 
in  true,  noble  friendship — in  its  strenuous  games,  graceful  dancing, 
grand,  melodious  songs  and  music,  boundless  mirth,  good  cheer  and 
unconfined  joyousness. 

"To  say  that  we  thank  you,  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of 
the  King  of  Sparta ;  thank  you,  Priest  Zeothynius,  for  your  invocation 
to  the  gods  in  our  behalf;  thank  you,  noble  Spartan  men,  women  and 
maidens  all — thank  you  for  your  efforts  in  making  this  day  pleasurable, 
only  expresses  feebly  what  our  hearts  feel.  All  the  voyagers  agree  that 
upon  our  return,  our  ship  will  land  here  again,  if  the  gods  deny  it  not. 
(Loud  applause.) 

"Great  is  the  unknown  distance  we  are  to  sail ;  and  the  will  of  the 
gods  is  unknown  to  us.  Upon  our  return,  the  first  sight  of  the  Taygetus 
mountains  from  a  distance  out  at  sea  will  gladden  our  hearts.  Brave 
Spartans!  As  darkness  is  falling  fast  over  land  and  sea,  I  will  only 
add:  The  past  and  the  future  make  up  the  longer  part  of  our  lives. 
The  present  is  ever  short,  but  passes  into  the  long  past,  as  does  this 
joyous  Spartan-Athenian  festal  day,  thus  during  all  our  lives  to  remain 
in  delightful  remembrance.  Now  may  we  say,  brave  Spartans — Fare 
well."  (Great  applause.) 

After  the  final  farewells  had  been  spoken,  the  Spartans  returned  to 
their  homes  and  all  of  the  voyagers  proceeded  on  the  ship.  Captain 
Arteus  announced  that  before  sunrise,  the  ship  would  proceed  out  of 
the  bay  on  its  journey. 

Anaxogerous :  "All  is  quiet  and  at  rest  on  ship  and  shore.  It  is 
now  about  midnight.  Captain  Arteus  asked  me:  'Are  all  the  voyagers 
aboard  the  ship?'  I  answered:  'I  think  so.'  'Go  ask  the  Committee  on 
Rules  and  Order,'  said  the  Captain.  I  asked  the  Committee,  Diagorax, 
Sophon,  Pindarus  and  Meander,  but  none  knew.  The  Committee  decided 
on  a  roll  call  of  the  ship.  It  is  past  midnight.  Captain  Arteus  and  the 


220  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Committee  hold  an  earnest  conference.  The  roll  call  shows  that  Eu- 
ripidos  and  his  sister  Agathia  are,  as  yet,  not  on  board.  The  Committee 
decides  to  go  ashore  and  find  their  whereabouts.  The  ship  cannot  depart 
without  them,  as  the  sacred  promise  was  given  that  the  ship  would  not 
leave  any  landing  until  all  the  voyagers  were  safely  back  on  the  ship. 
Nor  has  any  voyager  the  right  to  remain  at  a  landing  unless  three- 
fourths  of  the  voyagers  and  Captain  give  their  consent.  The  Committee 
of  Four  are  going  ashore  in  the  darkness,  clad  in  armor  and  carrying 
only  a  short  spear.  After  a  long  interval  of  time,  the  Committee  re 
turned  unaccompanied  by  Euripidos  or  Agathia. 

"The  Committee  and  Captain  Arteus  agreed  that  all  voyagers  should 
be  awakened,  so  that  the  matter  could  be  brought  before  all  for  delib 
eration.  After  all  were  on  deck,  Diagorax,  standing  on  the  rostrum  In 
the  center  of  the  ship,  in  the  darkness,  said :  'Fellow  voyagers,  Euripi 
dos  and  his  sister  Agathia  are  not  on  the  ship,  but  our  Committee  on 
Rules  and  Order  on  searching  and  inquiring  for  them  in  the  town,  were 
directed  to  King  Gythio's  palace.  Arriving  near  the  palace,  the  sentinels 
demanded  the  reason  of  our  presence.  We  informed  them,  and  after 
long  delay,  Prince  Gyphodus,  Euripidos,  Agathia  and  a  Spartan  maiden 
appeared  on  the  stone  balcony  of  the  palace.  We  asked  them  to  come 
and  hasten  to  the  ship,  as  all  were  waiting  for  them  and  the  ship  was 
preparing  for  its  departure.' 

"Prince  Gyphodus  spoke  down  that  it  was  his  wish  that  Agathia 
(Marble  Beauty)  should  remain  and  become  a  member  of  the  kingly 
house  of  Gythium;  and  a  maiden  of  the  kingly  house  also  desired  that 
Euripidos  should  remain  and  also  become  closely  related  to  the  kingly 
house. 

"We  explained  that  the  ship  could  not  and  would  not  proceed  on  its 
voyage  until  they  had  both  returned  on  the  ship.  Euripidos  answered 
that  they  had  both  stayed  there  of  their  own  free  will  and  desire.  'We 
feel  it  is  the  Fates,'  said  Euripidos,  'who  desire  that  we  shall  stay  here 
and  our  own  best  judgment  tells  us  that  we  should  and  will  remain ;  so 
it  is  best,  fellow  voyagers,'  he  continued,  'that  the  ship  does  not  delay 
its  departure,  leaves  us  at  our  own  desire  to  our  happy  fate.' 

"We  pleaded  long  and  earnestly  for  them  to  return  to  the  ship,  say 
ing  also  that  the  ship  was  in  too  great  an  uproar  and  we  did  not  desire 
conflict,  but  peace. 

"Fair  Agathia  replied:  'Fellow  voyagers,  we  remain  here  of  our 
own  wish  and  free  will.  Under  no  circumstances  will  we  return  to  the 
ship,  for  we  feel  and  know  that  the  fates  have  plainly  decreed  that  we 
shall  remain  here,  and  remain  here  we  will.' 

"A  large  number  of  sentinels  came  out  of  the  castle  gate  while  we 
were  pleading,  and  we  also  noticed  and  heard  the  noise  and  stirring  of 


The  Shif)  Lands  at  Gythium  221 

a  lot  of  warriors  behind  the  castle  walls,  although  it  was  past  mid 
night. 

"Several  maidens  on  the  ship  said  that  they  had  noticed  Agathia 
in  the  company  of  Prince  Gyphodus  from  the  beginning;  and  doubted 
whether  she  would  return  again  to  the  ship. 

"After  a  long,  excited  deliberation,  Diagorax  said :  'The  question  now 
is  shall  the  ship  depart  without  Euripidos  and  Agathia,  or  shall  we  try 
to  return  them  to  the  ship  by  force?' 

"The  demand  was  that  they  should  be  forced  to  return  to  the  ship, 
for  they  belonged  to  the  ship,  even  if  it  resulted  in  an  open  conflict 
between  Spartans  and  Athenians. 

"Marstenes  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  'The  Spartan  warriors 
are  certainly  gathering  in  greater  and  greater  numbers  in  the  castle 
wall ;  therefore,  men  and  maidens,  all  arm  yourselves  at  once  so  that 
we  can  in  greatest  haste  proceed  to  the  castle  and  demand  possession 
of  Euripidos  and  Agathia  before  the  Spartan  warriors  from  far  and 
near  have  gathered  in  too  large  a  force.' 

"In  a  short  time  the  ship's  full  force,  men  with  shields,  spears  and 
war  clubs,  maidens  with  bows  and  arrows — all  clad  in  armor,  marched 
in  great  haste  and  to  a  certain  extent,  surrounded  the  castle,  excepting 
at  its  rear  and  front,  where  large  numbers  of  Spartan  warriors  had 
formed  lines  of  defense.  The  castle  had  no  moat  and  was  not  as  well 
protected,  it  is  said,  as  the  castle  of  the  King  at  the  city  of  Sparta. 

"Our  Athenian  forces  were  better  equipped  than  the  Spartan  war 
riors,  but  we  could  see  Spartan  warriors  arriving  in  groups  from  all 
directions.  Marstenes  went  up  to  the  commander  of  the  warriors  in 
front  of  the  castle  and  demanded  to  see  the  King  within  a  short  speci 
fied  time. 

"The  Spartan  officer  dispatched  a  warrior  to  King  Gythio.  The  King 
appeared  on  the  balcony  just  above,  and  told  his  officer  to  call  Marstenes 
to  come  below  the  balcony.  Marstenes  spoke  up  to  the  balcony  and 
said  in  very  determined  words : 

"  'Noble  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  as 
you  see  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  we  find  ourselves  compelled,  with 
a  large  armed  force,  determined  to  have  Euripidos  and  Agathia  returned 
to  the  ship  without  delay.' 

"The  King  replied:  'Truly  a  great  change  has  taken  place,  since 
our  joyful  feast  just  past;  and  now  your  spears  and  darts  are  seem 
ingly  thirsting  for  our  blood.' 

"Marstenes  replied:  'You  can  avoid  the  shedding  of  blood.  We 
cannot  and  will  not  delay  action  until  your  warriors  outnumber  ours. 
I  have  received  information  that  your  warriors  around  the  castle  are 
being  reinforced  by  new  groups  of  warriors  from  all  directions.  There- 


222  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

fore  we'll  not  parley  lonp ,  but  will  pass  onward  over  dead  and  dying 
Spartans  and  Athenians,  il  necessary,  and  bring  Euripidos  and  Agathia, 
dead  or  alive,  to  our  ship.' 

"Marstenes  called  out:  'Warriors,  spears  in  action!'  All  the  war 
riors  held  their  spears  pointed  forward  ready  to  make  an  onslaught 
against  the  Spartans  who  were,  as  yet,  less  in  number,  standing  in 
front  of  the  castle. 

"'Forward!'  rang  out  in  determined  tones  from  Marstenes. 

"The  Spartan  officer  gave  orders  to  his  warriors  to  fall  back,  which 
they  did  up  to  and  against  the  palace  walls;  some  standing  under  the 
balcony  on  which  the  King  stood. 

"The  King  shouted  down :  'Marstenes !  Marstenes !'  Then  Marstenes 
gave  out  the  order:  'Halt!'  and  the  Athenian  warriors  stood  in  long 
triple  lines  only  a  short  distance  from  the  Spartans,  looking  and  point 
ing  death  into  each  other's  eyes. 

"Priest  Orato,  of  our  ship,  a  short  distance  off,  with  incense  rising 
from  his  slender  burnished  tripod,  invoked,  in  silence,  the  assistance  of 
Minerva : 

"  'O  Minerva !  Head-born  of  Zeus !  We  invoke  thee  send  wisdom 
down  to  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  so 
that  he  replaceth  discord  with  concord.  We  invoke  thee,  also,  O  Miner 
va,  thou  who  wast  always  on  the  side  of  the  Greeks  in  their  direst 
need  at  Troy — thou  who  gave  wisdom  and  strength  to  Ulysses  to  slay 
the  suitors  of  his  wife,  Penelope, — O  we  invoke  thee,  command  Iris  to 
retrace  her  flight  with  the  torch  of  Discord  now  flaming  between  Spar 
tan  and  Athenian,  for,  O  Blue-eyed  goddess  thou  hast  always  looked 
with  equal  favor  on  the  Spartan  and  Athenian — always  looked  with 
great  favor  on  all  Greeks.  O  Minerva !  thou  with  arching  helmet  and 
spear — thou  from  whose  eyes  glance  forth  wisdom  and  honor — O  also 
inspire  the  impulsive  Marstenes  with  wisdom  above  not  to  slay  and  to 
kill,  for  O  fair  goddess,  deep  was  the  friendship  formed  on  this  Spar 
tan-Athenian  festal  day;  therefore,  O  Minerva,  we  invoke  thee  send 
down  wisdown  and  concord  so  that  it  may  thus  remain  forever.' 

"Venus  also,  'tis  said,  used  her  persuasive  powers  with  Minerva,  ask 
ing  her  to  inspire  both  the  Spartans  and  Athenians  with  concord  and 
wisdom ;  for  it  was  she  who  had  sent  her  son  Cupid  to  wing  his  tiny 
golden  arrows  at  the  hearts  of  Euripidos,  and  Julene,  Gyphodus  and 
Agathia.  And  a  great  triumph  was  it  unto  her,  for  the  hearts  were 
those  belonging  to  the  highest  class  of  mortals.  Venus  looked  not  with 
favor  on  the  Athenian  Four  Hundred  as  long  as  they  were  on  the  ship, 
because  they  had  decreed  against  her  presence  there  and  had  forbid 
den  with  the  most  strenuous  determination  her  son  Cupid  to  alight 
among  the  voyagers.  Cupid  often  complained  bitterly  to  Venus  of  the 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  223 

cruel  decision  of  the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  especially  against  its 
Committee  of  Rules  and  Order. 

"At  the  time  Marstenes  ordered  the  men  forward,  Rosania,  in 
command  of  the  long  line  of  maiden  archers  also  commanded  forward 
and  also  followed  Marstenes'  'halt.'  Bravely  did  the  long  row  of  maiden 
archers  march  forward  ready  to  assist  with  well-aimed  dart,  if  the 
gods  should  decree  that  a  conflict  should  take  place.  With  both  Spar 
tan  and  Athenian  forces  standing  close  opposite  to  each  other,  with 
spears  and  bows  ready  for  the  conflict,  just  at  the  highest  nick  of  time 
when  all  muscles  were  on  the  strain  ready  to  spring  forward,  upon 
Marstenes'  command,  which  was  expected  without  delay,  King  Gythlo 
shouted  down  from  the  balcony: 

"'Noble  Marstenes— Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  swift  will  I 
talk;  Prince  Gyphodus,  Agathia,  Euripidos  and  Julene  will  at  once 
appear  upon  the  grounds  before  you  and  plead  their  case;  and  if 
you  accept  not  their  pleadings  to  remain  in  Sparta,  they  will  without 
delay  accompany  you  all  to  the  ship  and  sail  forth,  even  to  our  sadness. 
Marstenes,  Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  Accept  you  this  olive 
branch  of  peace,  of  concord,  of  friendship!' 

"Marstenes  called  a  number  of  his  fellow  voyagers  towards  him. 
They  in  turn  ran  among  the  long  Athenian  lines  of  men  and  maidens. 
In  a  very  short  space  of  time,  Marstenes  said:  'Shall  we,  fellow  voy 
agers,  as  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  asks, 
allow  the  lovesick  to  appear  before  us  to  plead  their  cause?' 

"The  answer  came  in  such  overwhelming  unanimity,  all  shouting,  'Ap 
pear  before  us !  appear  before  us!'  that  Marstenes  replied  to  the  King 
on  the  balcony:  'Yes,  without  delay,  we  ask  them  to  come  forth  and 
plead  their  cause.' 

"Immediately  Prince  Gyphodus,  Agathia,  Euripidos,  and  Julene 
came  forth  from  the  palace  door  accompanied  by  a  strong  escort  of 
Spartan  warriors  and  took  a  position  between  the  Spartan  and  Athenian 
lines  close  under  the  balcony  on  which  the  King  was  standing. 

"The  Committee  on  Rules  and  Order,  through  Meander,  asked  Euripi 
dos  to  explain  his  and  Agathia's  failure  to  appear  on  the  ship. 

"Euripidos  said:  'In  view  of  the  large  number  of  voyagers  accom 
panying  the  ship,  we  knew  our  absence  would  not  in  the  least  interfere 
with  the  great  object  of  the  ship's  adventure.  On  the  contrary,  we  be 
lieve  our  presence  here  will  be  of  more  value  to  Athenian  commerce 
than  would  be  our  presence  on  the  ship.  As  you  desire  us  to  explain  in 
the  shortest  time  possible,  I  also  can  say  we  are  still  on  Grecian  soil. 
But  rather  than  cause  a  conflict  unto  death  between  Spartan  and  Athe 
nian  friends,  I  would  rather  myself  die  a  thousand  deaths.  I  would 
then  be  dying  for  the  sake  of  Sparta  and  Athens,  which  would  be  enough 
glory  for  me.' 


224  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Julene,  the  Spartan  maiden,  said:  'Noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  every  Spartan  warrior  and  maiden  has  been  greatly  delighted 
by  the  honor  of  your  sojourn  here.  You  came  not  by  the  few,  but  by 
the  hundreds.  As  the  Athenian-Spartan  day  came  to  a  close,  a  feeling 
of  sadness  came  over  every  Spartan  heart.  O  Noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  upon  your  hundreds  again  leaving  us,  is  it  too  much  for  us  to 
plead  to  you,  as  we  now  do— is  it  asking  too  much  to  allow  only  two 
out  of  your  great  number  to  remain  with  us?  To  become  a  part  of  us? 
Your  friends,  not  your  enemies?  Surely,  Noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  you  will  not  object  to  Euripidos  and  Agathia  remaining  here 
and  becoming  Spartan-Athenians — both  noble  names.' 

"Agathia  said:  'Fellow  Voyagers!  You  can  well  get  along 
without  us,  but  we  here,  so  have  the  gods  decreed,  cannot  well  get 
along  without  each  other.  Rather  than  see  a  Spartan  or  Athenian  spear 
dyed  in  blood,  rather  would  I  also  die  many  deaths  to  avoid  it,  for 
Spartan  and  Athenians  are  from  this  day  the  sincerest  of  friends.  We 
plead  with  you,  O  fellow  voyagers,  let  us  remain  here.  Not  was  it  our 
first  intention  upon  landing  here — for  the  events  of  the  future  are 
closed  to  all.  But  it  is  the  decree  of  the  gods  that  we  should  remain 
here — here  among  our  noble  Spartan  friends.  Fellow  voyagers !  We  all 
remember  that  one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers,  upon  talking  of  mar 
riage,  said:  "There  is  in  some  part  of  the  world,  if  not  in  the  imme 
diate  home  town,  always  one  person  and  only  one,  that  belongs  to  one 
other.  Once  upon  a  time,  a  maiden,"  he  said,  "passing  through  a  strange 
town,  fainted.  A  young  man,  near  by,  took  her  up  in  his  arms,  out  of 
harm's  way,  and  when  she  opened  her  eyes  again,  they  both  knew  that 
they  had  found  each  other  as  the  gods  willed  it;  and  they  lived  long 
and  happy  together.  Thus/'  said  the  philosopher,  "such  as  belong  to 
each  other  often  stumble  towards  each  other,  as  strangers  in  far-off 
lands,  feeling  at  first  sight  as  they  never  had  felt  before,  reading  at 
the  first  deep  glance  that  which  they  never  read  in  eyes  before:  true 
faith;  true  admiration;  true  and  undying  love,  the  greatest  blessing 
the  gods  can  bestow  upon  mortal  man.  And,"  said  our  Athenian  philoso 
pher,  "he  who  in  the  least  attempts  to  disturb  such  happiness  decreed  by 
the  gods,  will  be  afflicted  with  their  disfavor  in  all  of  his  undertakings. 
We  all  remember  that  our  Athenian  philosopher  said:  'Whom  the  gods 
have  joined  together,  let  no  man  attempt  to  put  asunder.'  Warriors, 
Spartans,  Athenians — Think  not  of  a  conflict,  for  if  our  fellow  voyagers 
insist  that  we  shall  return  to  the  ship,  rather  than  be  the  cause  of  a 
conflict  between  noble  friends,  will  we  return.  But  I  doubt  that  the 
gods  can  give  me  strength  enough  to  keep  my  body  from  swaying  life 
less  to  and  fro, — an  object  of  wonder  to  the  fair  Nereides  at  the  cool 
bottom  of  the  sea — thus  to  still  my  aching  heart. 

"Our  fate  lies  in  your  hands,  if  the  gods  so  allow  it.    Our  Noble 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  225 

Marstenes  has  uttered  the  words  'Love  sick.'  No!  no!  we  are  not 
love  sick— we  are  love-healthy ;  for  what  the  gods  have  decreed  Is  always 
strong,  healthy,  well,  and  proper.  Yes,  we  are  love-healthy.  We  implore 
you  not  to  plead  with  us  the  rules  of  the  ship,  as  formed  before  leaving 
our  beloved  Athens ;  for  we  know  them  all.  The  greatest  of  all  objects 
of  the  ship's  adventure  is  commerce.  Noble  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by 
virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  said  that  we  would  be  of  more  benefit  to 
Athenian  and  Gythian  commerce  by  remaining  here  than  if  we  voyaged 
with  the  ship.  Here  at  Gythium,  Sparta's  seaport,  I  and  noble  Gyphodus, 
also  Euripidos,  would  work  for  the  interest  of  Athenian-Gythian  com 
merce.  It  comes  to  my  mind,  fellow  voyagers,  that  if  at  every  seaport, 
worthy  of  the  ship's  landing,  one  or  two  voyagers  would  remain  at  such 
landings,  it  would  offer  an  opportunity  to  work  for  Athenian  commerce, 
form  friendships  and  be  to  the  real  benefit  of  our  beloved  Athens. 

"Fellow  Voyagers,  we  pray  to  you  allow  us  to  remain  here.  We  feel 
the  gods  have  so  decreed — for  the  sake  even  of  Athenian  commerce, 
friendship,  alliance  and  for  the  best  of  all." 

Prince  Gyphodus  said:  "Brave  adventurers!  This  day's  sunshine 
has  been  too  swiftly  followed  by  this  darkness  of  night ;  this  day's  great 
joy  followed  too  soon  by  threatening  combat.  Although  this  night's 
darkness  is  made  more  so  by  the  sad  occurrence — this  happy  occurrence, 
I  should  say— still  there  is  left  to  us  that  which  was  left  at  the  bottom 
of  Pandora's  vase — Hope.  It  is  the  hope  that  assists  the  heart  to  con 
tinue  its  beating.  The  hope  that  your  Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens 
will  all  agree  cheerfully  to  allow  your  noble  Agathia  and  Euripidos  to 
remain  here  and  become  of  us — become  members  of  our  royal  house — 
noble  Agathia  to  become  my  spouse,  Julene  to  become  the  spouse  of  your 
noble  Euripidos.  Thus,  to  the  benefit  and  power  of  your  beloved 
Athens,  in  peace,  in  war  and  in  commerce.  (Slight  applause.) 

"Our  Gythium  traders  are  pleased  with  their  this  day's  barter,  made 
between  them  and  your  Committee  of  Commerce.  The  object  of  your 
daring  adventure,  we  are  told,  is  the  securing  of  wealth  for  Athens. 
Such  being  its  object,  your  noble  Agathia — allow  me  to  say,  My  dearest 
Agathia — and  your  noble  Euripidos,  cannot  serve  the  grand  object 
better  than  by  remaining  here,  as  decreed  by  gods  friendly  both  to 
Athens  and  Sparta.  Upon  first  sight,  noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens, 
I  felt — indeed  I  knew— that  the  gods  had  decreed  that  the  beautiful, 
wise,  noble,  brave  maiden  from  distant  shores  should  come  here  and 
exchange  glances  and  thus  make  known  to  me  my  future  spouse.  Upon 
our  first  immediate  meeting  we  found  that  we  belonged  to  one  another. 
Although  not  known,  or  lost  to  each  other,  we  found  one  the  other.  Upon 
looking  at  me  with  her  deep,  blue  eyes,  strong  as  I  am,  I  had  to  look 
down  again;  and  she  likewise.  No  language  could  have  spoken,  nor 
could  any  other  eyes  have  spoken  to  us  what  our  glances  said  to  each 


226  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

other.  Looking  aside  to  avoid  the  precious  glances,  'It  is  she,9  'it  is  he,' 
passed  through  our  minds. 

"Upon  passing  each  other  at  first,  in  the  crowd,  we  could  not  help 
glancing  around  at  each  other  with  subdued  ecstasy,  quietly  turning 
back  our  heads.  But  we  soon  found  that  we  should  not  pass  each  other ; 
but  must  remain  together.  (Slight  applause.) 

"Our  wisest  philosophers  say  that  for  each  man  there  is  only  one 
real  woman,  only  one  that  the  gods  have  decreed  for  him;  and  noble 
Agathia  is  that  one  for  me.  The  gods  have  conspired  to  bring  us  to 
gether  in  this  way  and  thus,  in  diverse  ways,  are  all  such  whom  the 
gods  intend  for  each  other  brought  together,  even  over  mountains  and 
seas.  But  meet  they  will.  In  the  interest  and  happiness  of  ourselves, 
of  our  Royal  house,  and  of  commerce — your  grand  object — O  noble 
Athenian  Four  Hundred,  we  once  more  plead,  put  not  asunder  that  which 
the  gods,  in  their  wisdom,  have  brought  together."  (Slight  applause.) 

King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta,  spoke 
down  from  the  stone  balcony,  as  follows :  "Noble  Athenian  Four  Hun 
dred!  Friends!  Your  wonderful  ship  Aeolus  has  come  to  our  shores 
as  a  sample  ship  in  itself,  as  well  as  in  its  cargo,  including  fully  four 
hundred  beautiful,  handsome,  daring,  brave,  wise,  valiant  ensamples 
of  humanity.  Your  nobility  is  such  as  to  raise  our  own  opinion  of  our 
selves  through  your  honored  presence.  You  have  left  us  desirable  speci 
mens  of  your  merchandise,  noble  friends;  and  we  feel  that  we  are  not 
asking  too  much  by  indicating  our  desire  that  you  allow  also  the  least 
number  possible  that  you  can  spare  of  your  noble  cargo  to  remain  as 
samples  also  here  with  us — the  beautiful,  handsome,  noble,  brave 
Agathia  and  Euripidos.  That  they  both  will  enjoy  life  and  be  highly 
honored  I  give  my  sacred  promise.  That  the  alliance  thus  formed  will 
be  to  the  interest  of  both  Sparta  and  Athens  is  not  necessary  to  enlarge 
upon.  Look  at  the  two  young  couples  and  you  cannot  but  say  that  they 
are  well  matched;  the  blonde  with  the  brunette;  the  brunette  with  the 
blonde. 

"If  Paris  of  Troy  were  here  and  asked  to  throw  the  apple  to  the 
most  beautiful,  he  would  have  to  throw  the  apple  to  the  first  one  of 
your  maidens  he  set  his  eyes  upon ;  for  he  would  not  think  that  it  would 
be  possible  to  find  a  more  beautiful  one.  Agathia  is,  as  her  name  indi 
cates,  good,  kind,  brave.  One  of  your  noble  Athenians  said  to  me  that 
it  was  well  for  nations  to  come  in  frequent  friendly  touch  with  each 
other.  It  would  banish  suspicion,  strangeness  and  encourage  friendship 
and  commerce.  Truly  said.  And  there  is  no  better  way  for  nations 
to  come  in  friendly  touch  with  each  other  than  by  marriage;  as  Prince 
Gyphodus  and  noble  Agathia  intend,  also  Euripidos  and  Julene.  A 
great  deal  could  I  say,  noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  why  you 
should  not  object  to  these  alliances.  But  in  the  darkness  of 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  227 

the  night  I  will  only  say  my  days  are  well  nigh  numbered  and  soon 
must  I  pass  away;  therefore  it  is  my  wish  to  see  my  son  Gyphodus 
united  as  a  future  King  should  be  united,  to  a  noble,  beautiful,  healthy, 
strong,  stately,  wise,  maiden,  so  that  the  future  generations  may  stand 
forth  as  handsome,  brave,  stalwart  rulers,  such  as  a  people  delight  to 
see,  acknowledge  and  obey ;  such  as  a  nation  at  home  and  abroad  may 
feel  proud  of. 

"It  has  always  been  our  Spartan  motto  that  such  as  rule  should  be 
endowed  with  superior  excellencies  over  those  that  are  ruled.  Thus 
must  a  kingly  house  give  great  forethought  in  the  matings  of  its  prin 
cesses  and  princes. 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred — Friends!  Young  as  you  all  are, 
allow  me  to  ask  you  to  accept  the  pleadings  of  one  over  whom  the  full 
number  of  life's  moons  will  soon  have  passed.  Allow  noble  Agathia 
and  Euripidos  to  become  Spartans,  for  the  strength,  glory  and  com 
merce  of  Athens  and  Sparta  for  endless  time  to  come."  (Slight  ap 
plause.  ) 

After  a  general  exchange  of  views  among  our  Athenians  had  taken 
place,  Hypnothoon,  the  Nestor  of  our  voyage,  stepped  forward  and  re 
plied: 

"Valiant  King  Gythio,  of  Gythium,  by  virtue  of  the  King  of  Sparta ! 
One  of  the  greatest  gifts  which  the  sea  has  wafted  and  given  to  the 
land  is  Aphrodite  (Venus),  the  beautiful  foam-born  goddess. 

The  wafting  waves  bore  her  ashore, 
Her  presence,  O  we  never  deplore. 

"But  with  one  single  exception.  On  our  ship  it  was  found  neces 
sary  that  we  all  should  make  strenuous  efforts  to  make  her  conspicuous 
through  her  absence.  Her  son,  Cupid,  we  are  told,  complained  bitterly 
on  account  of  our  forbidding  him  to  alight  on  the  ship.  And  thus  far 
have  we  been  successful.  But  here,  on  our  first  landing  place  off  of 
the  ship — how  soon  Venus  took  advantage  of  the  situation !  How  soon 
Cupid,  with  his  darts,  pierced  two  loving  hearts  of  ours!  Brave  Spar 
tan,  we  do  not  stand  here  to  reason,  for  it  is  all  love — love — love.  Such 
being  the  unalterable  state  of  affairs,  to  reason  is  always  out  of  season. 
The  deep  emotions  which  Cupid's  darts  have  imparted  to  their  hearts 
make  it  a  folly  to  attempt  to  reason.  'Tis  said,  'A  god  can  hardly  love 
and  be  wise.'  When  two  are  ready  to  die  for  each  other  and  sigh 
for  each  other,  to  reason  is  useless.  'Tis  well  known  that  the  maidens 
and  youths  of  a  town  are  easily  infatuated  with  the  charms  of  strangers 
— of  men  or  maiden  visitors.  But  be  that  as  it  will,  we  all  agree  with 
your  noble  highness  that  the  two  brave  couples  who  have  discovered 
each  other  present  typical  man  and  womanhood — are  nobly  matched 
in  beauty,  grace,  size,  strength  and  wisdom ;  so  that  we  cannot  but  say 


228  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

to  Venus,  'Well  done,  Fair  Goddess:  thoughtfully  aimed,  brave  Cupid." 

At  this  juncture  Marstenes  interrupted  the  speaker  for  a  moment 
and  commanded :  "Warriors,  all  rest  arms ;  spears  reversed." 

Hypnothoon  proceeded :  "This  meeting  also  harmonizes  with  the 
Spartan  teachings  at  Athens.  The  stalwart,  handsome  couples  will 
certainly  be  the  progenitors  of  future  stalwart,  noble  princes  and  prin 
cesses  who,  at  the  first  glance,  will  be  recognized  as  belonging  to  the 
royal  family  of  powerful  Sparta.  (Applause.) 

"Your  noble  highness:  I  have  been  appointed  to  say,  as  with  one 
great  voice  of  all  of  our  Four  Hundred  Athenians,  that  we  have  agreed 
to  place  no  further  obstacles  in  the  way  and  that  our  past  fellow 
voyagers  are  allowed  to  follow  the  decrees  of  the  gods  and  remain  here 
in  Sparta.  (Great  applause,  the  Spartan  warriors  striking  their  shields 
with  their  spears.) 

"We  also  accept  the  situation  as  a  substantial  compliment  to  our 
Athenian  race.  And  as  such  do  we  now  accept  it,  brave  Spartans. 
(Great  applause.) 

"Fellow  Grecians:  Many  victors  have  we  crowned  in  our  games  at 
our  Spartan- Athenian  festival,  but  we  hope  that  we  ?an  say  the  great 
est  victors  are  the  couples  standing  before  us  at  this  time.  All  the 
voyagers  of  the  ship  wish  to  bid  a  hasty  farewell  to  the  love-healthy 
and  also  to  crown  Gyphodus  and  Euripidos  with  a  myrtle  wreath, 
Agathia  and  Julene  with  an  olive  wreath  entwined  with  beautiful 
flowers.  These  wreaths  now  upon  the  young  couples'  brows  are  en 
hanced  by  the  diamond-like  glistening  of  the  night's  dew  with  which 
the  sparkling  eyes  of  the  young  brides  beautifully  harmonize.  In  the 
name  of  our  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  we  express  our  best  wishes  and 
hope  that  Prince  Gyphodus,  our  beloved  Agathia,  noble  Euripidos,  and 
beautiful  Julene  will  enjoy  the  highest  bliss  the  gods  can  bestow  upon 
mortals,  which  is :  beautiful,  strong,  wise,  courageous  offspring,  such  as 
form  heroes,  kings  and  queens.  (Applause.)  The  countless  glittering 
stars  in  the  blue  vault  above  witnessing  the  crowning  of  our  victors  this 
night  surely  augurs  well  for  the  future  conquests  and  glory  of  the 
Spartan-Athenian  race." 

At  this  instant  Euripidos,  holding  his  beloved  Julene  by  the  hand, 
said: 

"Fellow  Athenians,  Agathia  would  speak  to  you  a  few  parting 
words.  Whatever  she  may  say  will  undoubtedly  cover  my  case  also. 
It  seems  to  me  it  is  more  fitting  and  pleasing  on  this  beautiful  moon 
light  night  to  listen  to  a  woman's  sweet  voice,  impressing  us  all  with 
the  fact  that  the  peace  and  friendship  existing  between  Athens  and 
Sparta  has  not  been  disturbed."  (Applause.) 

'Agatha,  held  by  the  hand  of  Prince  Gyphodus,  said:  "Dear  Fel 
low  Athenians,  and  of  course  Spartans  also:  Before  I  fully  decided 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  229 

to  accompany  the  Aeolian  expedition,  a  friend  of  mine,  who  did  not 
desire  me  to  sail  along,  said  among  many  other  warnings,  that  I  should 
ponder  on  the  fact  that  the  ocean,  night  or  day,  was  a  large,  open 
grave.  Yes,  said  he,  you  will  be  sailing  over  a  large,  open  grave.  Upon 
looking  down  from  the  ship's  side  you  will  be  looking  down  on  an  open 
grave,  and  those  falling  into  it  are  covered  automatically  out  of  sight 
forever.  I  laughed  at  him  and  replied  that  I  could  swim  and  he  could 
not  change  my  decision  by  such  talk.  But  let  me  tell  you  that  even 
before  yesterday's  sun  had  fairly  set,  his  remark,  'the  sea  is  a  large, 
open  grave,'  came  forcibly,  earnestly,  sadly  to  my  mind  again.  Fellow 
Grecians,  I  was  determined  that  there  should  be  no  bloodshed  between 
Athenians  and  Spartans  on  account  of  the  Fates  having  decreed  that 
Gyphodus  and  I  should  be  as  one.  No,  I  would,  if  all  entreaties  failed, 
go  back  on  the  ship  with  you,  and  so  would  Euripidos.  But  do  you 
think  it  would  be  possible  for  me  to  allow  myself  to  live,  to  view  the 
next  rising  sun  again?  No,  no,  I  could  not  have  helped  but  feel  and 
think — O  how  happy  are  the  dead!  And  you  would  have  found  upon 
the  roll-call  our  names  unanswered.  Yes,  you  too  would  not  have  come 
to  any  other  conclusion  than  'the  ocean  is  an  open  grave.'  That,  I 
already  felt,  would  be  a  noble  death;  for  to  live  would  have  been 
impossible.  That  would  have  saved  the  Spartans  and  Athenians  from 
deadly  conflict,  but  O  I  will  not  again  speak  the  word  'grave' ;  for  how 
unspeakably  happy  am  I — we — standing  together  surrounded  by  our 
Spartan-Athenian  friends,  all  wishing  us  well  and  happy. 

"O  such  is  the  happy  decree  of  the  gods ;  and  to  Minerva,  Venus  and 
Cupid,  incense  will  I  burn  in  their  honor  to  the  end  of  my  days.  O  how 
I  wish  that  you  all  may  also  be  happy  and  that  good  will  come  to  you 
always." 

Prince  Gyphodus  spoke  up  and  said :  "Dear  Grecians !  To  say  that 
Agathia  intended  martyrdom  indicates  true  nobility  in  its  highest  con 
ception,  but,"  Gyphodus  proceeded  with  a  look  of  defiance,  "I  do  not 
wish  to  say  what  my  determination  was.  I  had  a  determination,  which 
all  the  powers  in  the  world  could  not  have  changed.  If  I  had  not 
entertained  such  determination,  I  surely  would  not  have  been  worthy 
of  the  love  of  noble,  brave  Agathia,  now  standing  in  all  her  beauty  at 
my  side.  I  would  not  have  been  worthy  of  the  name  'Spartan.''  But 
to  Minerva,  who  has  calmed  your  rage  and  has  used  her  power — her 
wisdom — to  bring  us  all  to  one  wise  conclusion  and  insight,  I  will  offer 
the  first  of  fruits  and  flowers  and  sweetest  of  incenses.  And  now, 
noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  I  extend  my  heartfelt  thanks  to  you  all 
for  the  most  precious,  loving  Athenian  prize  allotted  to  me — the  most 
precious  prize  that  can  be  bestowed  upon  mortal — a  beautiful,  perfect 
woman!  (Great  applause.)  Dear  Grecians,  you  will  remember,  in  my 
first  address,  I  spoke  of  a  Marble  Beauty  whom  I  saw  while  rowing 


230  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

around  your  grand  ship  as  Aurora  was  just  beginning  to  roseate  the 
east,  standing  on  the  ship's  bulwark,  and  the  rose  she  slyly  dropped 
into  my  boat  and  then  disappeared  down  on  the  ship's  deck  again. 

"Yes,  our  eyes  had  spoken  that  deep,  unspeakable  language  of  affin 
ity,  which  words  are  far  too  feeble  to  express.  And  clad  in  the  same 
spotless  white  stands  my  dear  Agathia  before  you  now.  MarUe  Beauty 
may  seem  a  cold  expression,  but,  oh,  enclosed  in  the  heavy  marble-like 
folds,  dwells  the  beauty  of  form,  healthy  vigor,  warmth,  happiness  and 
pleasure  in  fullest  measure.  Your  celebrated  Athenian  philosophers 
say:  'It  is  to  the  interest  of  commerce  for  nations  to  come  in  touch 
with  each  other.'  Truly  will  we  come  in  touch  with  Athens.  Yes,  my 
charming  Agathia  and  I,  a  Spartan,  will  come  in  touch  and  will  share 
the  joys  of  true  Athenian-Spartan  love  to  its  deepest  depths."  (Great 
applause.) 

Marstenes  said :  "Dear  Agathia,  love-healthy,  as  you  said  before,  let 
us  name  you,  we  have  listened  closely  to  what  you  have  said  and  even 
the  man  in  the  moon  seemed  to  open  his  eyes  wider  as  if  in  wonder 
over  your  natural  flowing  statement  that  the  ocean  is  a  large,  open 
grave.  The  man  in  the  moon  heretofore  likely  only  looked  down  on 
the  vast  ocean  as  being  a  mirror  in  which  he  beheld  his  waning  and 
waxing  countenance.  Dear  Love-healthy,  while  we  were  deliberating 
in  our  highest  excitement  and  determination,  all  agreeing  that  we 
should  advance  at  once  to  battle — at  that  extreme  moment,  the  coun 
selors  all  seemed  to  hesitate,  looked  at  each  other  as  if  a  sudden 
change  of  spirit  had  come  over  them.  It  seemed  as  though  we  were 
being  influenced  by  some  powerful  spirit  hovering  over  us,  and  thus  by 
the  wisdom  of  the  blue-eyed  Minerva  were  we  unconsciously  persuaded 
to  abate  our  rage;  and  the  result  and  happiness  to  you,  I  need  not  to 
enlarge  upon.  And  now  we  all  seem  to  be  of  one  opinion — that  all  is 
for  the  best  of  our  native  countries.  We  could  plainly  see  that  to  reason 
would  be  useless,  as  it  always  has  been  and  will  be  where  two  have 
looked  so  deeply  into  each  other's  eyes  and  have  found  themselves.  In 
such  cases,  the  centuries  themselves  have  conspired  together  that  such 
bcome  man  and  wife. 

"I  have  also  been  asked  in  the  name  of  the  Four  Hundred  to  extend 
to  you  loving  couples,  our  best  wishes  for  your  welfare  and  prosperity, 
which  also  will  be  to  the  best  interest  of  our  Athenian  commerce." 
(Applause.) 

Julene  said:  "Dear  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  I  thank  you  over 
a  thousand  times  for  the  noble  prize  you  have  allowed  to  remain 
here — allowing  Athens  and  Sparta  to  come  closer  in  touch  with  each 
other.  My  happiness  I  cannot  express  in  words — it  is  so  great  that  I 
fear  it  may  cause  the  envy  of  the  gods.  Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred, 
with  deep  thanks,  I  wish  you  all  that  is  good,  and  a  pleasant  voyage, 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  231 

and  after  you  have  returned  here  again,  a  happy  return  to  your  great 
Athens."  ( Applause. ) 

Hypnothoon  strode  slowly  forth  with  thoughtful  countenance  and 
spoke  very  slowly:  "Fellow  Grecians!  But  I  must  particularize — 
Fellow  voyagers !  The  Committee  of  Order  and  a  number  of  maidens 
have,  with  profound  deliberation,  discussed  matters  that  have  not  failed 
to  make  an  impression  upon  us  all.  First,  let  me  say,  by  going  through 
a  museum  at  Athens,  I  took  particular  notice  of  a  row  of  human  skele 
tons,  and  I  found  that  all  were  built  the  same;  all  parts  and  bones 
were  exactly  the  same  in  each.  And  I  pondered  that  when  there  was 
flesh  on  them,  in  life,  they  also  were  just  the  same — one  like  the  other, 
including  their  thoughts,  feelings  and  desires.  But,  fellow  voyagers,  I 
will  soon  change  from  skeletons  to  a  much  livelier,  warmer  subject.  I 
only  wish  to  come  down  gradually  to  the  fact  that  we  human  beings 
are  about  all  the  same,  especially  in  our  strongest,  natural  inclinations. 
We  men  immediately  agreed  that  we  were  all  affected  in  a  similar  de 
gree  by  the  beautiful  sight  of  the  loving  couples  upon  which  all  our 
eyes  were  eagerly  feasting.  And  the  maidens  also  unanimously  said 
they  were  similarly  affected  by  the  charming  scene  of  the  loving  couples. 
We're  all  affected  the  same,  said  the  men,  and  maidens  also.  Yes,  upon 
viewing  the  ardent  kissing,  which  is  being  indulged  in  by  the  two  new 
couples,  it  has  affected  us  all  in  the  same  manner;  for  we  are  all  the 
same.  Now  we  all  know  how  it  has  affected  us,  yes,  through  sound 
and  sight.  The  loving,  kissing  scene  before  us  has  created  a  restless 
longing  in  all  of  us.  Now  we  know  our  ship's  rules  forbid  kissing.  But 
this  is,  as  we  have  all  agreed,  an  extraordinary  occasion  and  is  not 
on  the  ship.  We  all  wish  to  return  to  the  ship  with  the  idea  of  Com 
merce  uppermost  in  our  minds  and  not  burdened  with  longings — unsat 
isfied  longing  with  which  our  being  has  been  to  a  certain  extent  sur 
charged.  All  of  us,  maidens  and  men,  would  like  to  ventilate  our 
kissing  desire,  which  has  been  created  by  the  loving  scene  before  us. 
Yes,  we  all  wish  to  relieve  ourselves  of  that  desire — of  that  feeling, 
and  all  have  come  to  the  profound  conclusion  that  it  is  necessary  that 
we  should  kiss  each  other  and  thus  relieve  our  feelings.  Fellow  voy 
agers,  as  we  are  at  present  already  standing  in  couples,  it  will  be  easy 
and  not  require  much  time  to  accomplish  the  object  desired  and  Mars- 
tenes,  our  commander,  who  was  present  at  our  Committee's  deliberations, 
will  now  proceed  to  give  the  necessary  further  information  and  com 
mand."  ( Applause. ) 

Marstenes  said:  "Fellow  voyagers!  We  are  wisely  to  follow  our 
god-given  inclinations.  We  have  and  are  still  beholding  a  scene  of 
ardent  love  and  beauty — a  charming  kissing  scene.  But  before  I  pro 
ceed  further,  Rosania,  commander  of  our  maiden  voyagers,  will  first 
address  you." 


232  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Rosania,  standing-  alongside  of  Marstenes,  said  : 

"Fellow  voyagers!  The  happy  couples  standing  before  us,  on  the 
palace  balcony,  are  showing  us  how  to  kiss.  We  have  seen  and  are 
seeing  them  kiss  each  other  so  often  and  with  such  a  deep  feeling  of 
appreciation  that  it  has  kindled  a  keen  kissing  desire  in  all  of  us.  We 
see  that  the  couples  have,  and  are  not  only  kissing  each  other  on  the 
cheek,  but  also  kiss  each  other  on  the  lips. 

"Hypnothoon,  who  is  no  older  than  any  of  our  other  men  voyagers, 
but  who  has  been  selected  as  main  counselor,  because  it  is  said  he  has 
an  old  head  on  young  shoulders,  only  agrees  to  our  kissing  each  other 
with  the  strict  understanding  and  agreement  that  we  should  kiss  each 
other  on  the  cheeks  only. 

Rosania  continued:  "Our  kissing  has  been  limited  to  seven  kisses, 
and  should  not  be  executed  with  unnecessary  haste,  but  ample  time 
should  be  taken  between  each  kiss,  so  as  to  allow  the  mind  to  dwell 
upon  its  pleasure."  (Great  applause.) 

Marstenes  proceeded:  "Fellow  Adventurers!  Rosania  has  em 
phasized  the  fact  that  our  kissing  is  to  be  a  kissing  in  honor— for  an 
honorable  purpose.  But,  fellow  voyagers,  be  that  as  it  may,  we  must 
bear  strongly  in  mind  that  we  must  kiss  on  the  cheeks 
only.  No,  no,  not  yet — our  kissing  is  to  proceed  in  military  order, 
and  I  would  call  such  kissing,  a  large  numbered  kissing  at 
one  time — the  Military  Kiss.  We  Athenians  are  here  in  couples. 
Rosania  and  myself  form  one  couple.  I  will  command  posi 
tion  !  which  means  arms  down,  standing  near  to  each  other 
as  we  now  are.  Arm,  my  next  command,  means  throw  your  arms 
around,  ready  to  kiss,  and  at  the  command  Kiss,  all  kiss !  Now  I  must 
say  that  after  having  decided  to  limit  the  kissing  to  seven  kisses,  the 
maidens  also  said  they  wish  to  kiss  and  so  it  was  agreed  that  the  men 
kiss  four  times  and  the  maidens  three  times.  I  will  now  give  orders, 
but  slow  and  deliberately  for  reasons  hinted  at  by  Rosania." 

The  kisses  followed  seven  times  in  military  order  in  very  deliberate 
manner,  at  the  conclusion  of  which,  Marstenes  said:  "Now,  Grecians, 
we  have  truly  experienced  a  relief,  and  it  behooves  us  to  hasten  to 
the  ship.  To  our  artists,  I  am  empowered  to  say  that  no  sketch  is  to 
be  made  of  this  Military  Kiss  for  that  would  bring  it  too  strikingly 
to  the  notice  of  our  home  Athenians." 

Hypnothoon  said:  "Ornathio  will  read  a  short  rhyme  which  she 
has  inscribed  on  a  birch  bark."  Ornathio  read,  in  a  clear,  pleasant 
voice : 

"From  Olympus  high,  Minerva  came 
Our  Grecian  rage  to  soothe  and  tame, 
Descends  to  banish,  O,  the  pall 
Of  threat'ning  strife  that  hangs  o'er  all 
The  heads,  whose  hearts  not  long  before 
Claimed  friendship  as  in  days  of  yore. 


The  Ship  Lands  at  Gythium  233 

"Athenian-Spartan  friendship  strong 
O,  thus  to  rage!"  she  spoke,  "'tis  wrong! 
But  O,  accept  Fair  Venus'  plan, 
Agree  that  they  be  wife  and  man." 
On  hearing  her  true  wisdom  plain, 
Assuaged  our  rage,  again  we're  sane. 
Athenian- Spartan  friendship's  band 
Will  stronger  be  on  sea  and  land. 
Through  Athens-Spartan  glow  of  love, 
By  Fate's  decree — by  Gods  above. 

With  lance  and  helmet,  wondrous  fair 
Again  Minerva,  high  in  air 
Ascends  to  her  Olympian  seat; 
And  for  us  all,  we  know  'tis  meet 
On  tripods  fair,  incense  to  burn 
She  made  our  errors,  her  concern." 

Marstenes  said:  "Captain  Arteus  is  certainly  anxiously  awaiting 
our  return ;  therefore,  without  delay,  I  command :  Fall  in  line,  march." 

The  voyagers  all  marched,  also  followed  by  the  Spartan  warriors, 
King,  and  Gyphodus,  down  to  the  ship's  wharf.  Captain  Arteus  ordered 
the  hoisting-  of  the  sails.  Corina  stood  on  the  bulwark  of  the  ship, 
on  the  shore  side,  and  read: 

"O,  the  curtain  of  Night  is  passing  away 
And  Aurora  is  opening  in  splendid  array 
The  portals  from  whence  the  morning  light  glows 
In  beautiful  coloring  of  gold  and  of  rose. 
The  east  is  aglow  with  morning's  first  light, 
Thus  vanish  the  stars — the  darkness  of  night. 
The  wavelets  are  gilt  by  morning's  first  glow, 
The  brooklets  are  glistening  as  onward  they  flow; 
The  ocean  is  reddening  a  golden  bright  hue, 
Diamond-like  glistens  the  night-fallen  dew. 
Such  magic,  Aurora,  Thy  rising  doth  bring 
To  praise  thee,  the  birds  of  the  forest  all  sing 
Their  sweetest  of  lays  so  happy  and  bright, 
O  glorious— O  fair  golden  herald  of  light." 

Gyphodus,  from  the  wharf  on  the  shore,  spoke:  "Valiant  adven 
turers,  as  you  are  in  great  haste  to  proceed  upon  your  voyage,  and 
cannot  remain  to  participate  in  the  Athenian-Spartan  marriage  festivi 
ties,  we  will  upon  your  return  here,  renew  them,  so  as  to  have  the 
pleasure  and  honor  of  having  you  here  again  as  noble  guests.  As  to 
Athenian  commerce,  Agathia,  Julene,  Euripidos  and  myself  will  ever 
remember  our  promise.  As  the  last  word  I  wish  to  say:  May  the 
gods  protect  you  upon  your  venturesome  voyage  and  vouchsafe  unto 
you  all  a  safe  return."  A  Spartan  maiden  handed  the  following  to 
the  voyagers  on  the  ship : 


234  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"With  Spartan  hands  these  flowers  we  bring, 
And  in  one  grand,  loud  chorus  sing 
Of  Athens'  noble  hundreds,  four, 
Whose  love  and  friendship  evermore 
We  hope  to  share  to  endless  days, 
O  thus  accept  our  farewell  praise, 
With  prayers  to  all  our  gods  above, 
To  guide  in  safety  with  their  love 
Your  wonder  ship,  where'er  you  roam, 
Back  to  your  proud  Athenian  home." 

The  voyagers  stood  on  the  shore  side  of  the  ship  and  sang  to  a 
well-known  beautiful  Grecian  tune: 

"Gods,  we  pray,  O  may  time  give 
Many  offspring,  strong  and  fair, 
To  the  Spartan-Athens  pair — 
Offspring  such  as  heroes  make, 
Such  as  well  to  commerce  take; 
Such  of  which  you  proud  can  be 
On  the  land  and  on  the  sea; 
Offspring  to  unite  our  lands 
With  the  strongest  friendship  bands. 
This,  our  farewell  wish,  we  give: 
May  you  long  and  happy  live." 

Loud  cheering  and  applause  resounded  from  the  shore,  and  the 
grand  ship  sailed  proudly  on  its  course  towards  the  open  sea. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THE  SHIP  DEPARTS  FROM  GYTHIUM  FOR   PYLOS 

Scriborites:  With  a  fair  breeze,  all  sails  set,  the  Aeolus  is  sailing 
on  the  Bay  of  Laconicus  on  its  southerly  course  toward  point  Taenarum. 
The  voyagers  have  all  gone  below  deck  to  take  a  rest  from  their  day 
and  night  festival.  All  the  ship's  sailors  and  Officers  are  coming  on 
deck.  Captain  explains  to  Hilicarus,  second  in  command,  that  he 
wishes  to  sail  the  ship  about,  and  also  sail  in  a  circle,  so  as  to  give  the 
sailors  practice  in  handling  the  great  ship. 

The  trial  sailing  over,  the  ship  has  again  resumed  its  course  south 
ward.  On  rounding  Cape  Taenarum,  the  ship  is  heading  northwest 
towards  Pylos.  The  shades  of  night  are  lowering  and  Anaxogerous, 
the  night  scribe,  has  come  to  relieve  me. 

Anaxogerous,  night  scribe: 

The  great  ship  is  moving  languidly  through  the  waters.  On  all  sides 
the  sea  is  serene.  The  half  moon  and  endless  stars  are  glittering  in 
the  blue  vault  above.  The  second  officer,  Hilicarus,  who  is  now  in  com 
mand,  says:  "Pylos  in  Triphylia  may  be  sighted  when  the  sun  is  in 
the  zenith  on  the  coming  day."  The  breeze  has  freshened  and  our  ship 
is  sailing  in  a  northerly  direction  at  a  great  speed.  Captain  Arteus 
has  come  on  deck.  He  is  carrying  a  large  black  flag  in  his  arms.  He 
orders  the  seamen  to  hoist  it  to  the  top  of  the  hindmost  mast.  Up  it 
goes.  It  has  a  large  red  heart  in  the  middle.  The  black  flag  waving 
with  a  red  heart  in  the  center  presents  a  solemn  aspect.  Is  it  the  Flag 
of  Pylos,  at  which  city  we  are  to  land?  Upon  questioning  Hilicarus  as 
to  what  the  flag  represented,  he  replied :  "I  have  asked  Captain  Arteus, 
who  just  went  down  to  his  quarters  again.  All  he  answered  was: 
'Don't  allow  any  one  to  haul  it  down;  see  that  it  remains  up.'  The 
least  that  can  be  said  of  it,"  Hilicarus  said,  "is  that  it  is  an  ominous 
looking  flag." 

Benosteus,  one  of  the  voyagers,  has  come  on  deck.  I  asked  him 
whether  he  knew  what  the  black  flag  meant.  He  replied :  "I  suppose 
it  must  be  a  flag  that  is  admired  by  the  Pylosians."  Benosteus  said 
further:  "I  have  been  selected  to  hold  the  oration  at  Pylos  and  I 
must  also  know  something  about  that  black  flag." 

Benosteus  also  asked  Hilicarus,  the  second  officer  in  command,  in 
regard  to  the  flag,  and  he  answered :  "I  don't  know."  And  also  added : 

235 


236  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Don't  ask  the  Captain,  for,"  said  he,  "I  asked  him  and  he  gave  me  to 
understand  it  is  only  for  him  to  know."  Benosteus,  who  was  even 
before  dawn,  walking  to  and  fro  on  deck,  said  he  must  rehearse  to 
himself  what  he  is  going  to  orate  at  our  next  landing  place,  Pylos. 
"Surely,"  said  he,  "I  must 

Of  Nestor  speak,  in  accents  clear  and  loud, 
To  listening  ears,  of  Pylos'  gathering  crowd. 

"Yes, 

Of  him  much  will  I  have  to  say 
On  morrow's  grand  eventful  day. 

"I  must  know  that  Homer  says: 

'In  ninety  ships,  from  Pylos'  sandy  coast, 
Nestor,  the  sage,  conducts  his  chosen  host.' 

That  was  when  he  joined  the  other  Grecian  contingents  for  Troy,  to 
demand  the  return  of  the  fair  Helen.  And,  too,  Nestor,  son  of  Neleus 
and  Chloris,  was  in  his  day  King  of  Pylos.  He  also  distinguished  him 
self  in  the  contests  of  the  Centaurs  and  Clydonian  hunt  and  also  was 
with  the  famous  Argonauts.  At  the  Siege  of  Troy,  in  his  old  age,  he 
did  not  strongly  contest  in  combat;  but  his  counsel  was  eagerly  sought 
and  his  military  wisdom  gave  the  Athenians  more  strength  than  a 
thousand  warriors. 

Yes,  Nestor,  with  Ulysses  and  Menelaus  with  others  were  secreted 
in  the  Wooden  Horse  that  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Troy.  Truly  the 
brain  or  skull  in  which  the  stratagem  of  the  wooden  horse  originated 
should  have  been  preserved  for  human  eyes,  to  endless  generations. 

Pylos,  yes,  to  this  city  it  was  that  Prince  Telemachus  of  Ithaca  sailed 
to  visit  Nestor,  to  find  whether  he  could  give  "him  any  information  as  to 
the  cause  of  his  father's,  Ulysses'  long  years  of  delay  from  returning 
to  Ithaca  on  his  return  from  Troy.  Nestor,  it  is  said,  was  greatly 
pleased  to  receive  a  visit  from  the  son  of  his  noted  warrior  friend, 
Ulysses,  but  having  sailed  from  Troy  In  different  ships,  he  could  not 
give  Telemachus  the  longed-for  information.  Nestor  entertained  the 
son  of  his  noble  friend  Ulysses  right  royally,  and  entreated  him  to  pro 
long  his  stay ;  but  Telemachus  informed  Nestor  of  the  state  of  affairs 
at  the  kingly  court  of  Ithaca  and  expressed  his  eagerness  to  find  tidings 
of  his  father,  and,  if  possible,  to  aid  him  on  his  return  to  his  beloved 
Ithaca  before  his  mother,  Penelope,  would  be  prevailed  upon,  through 
the  many  years  of  absence  of  Ulysses,  to  marry  one  of  her  numerous 
suitors.  Nestor  thought  that  possibly  King  Menelaus,  of  Sparta,  for 
whose  cause  Ulysses,  himself  and  the  other  Greek  contingents  had 
fought  at  Troy,  might  know  something  of  Ulysses'  return  voyage.  Nes 
tor  ordered  his  best  horses  and  chariot  to  be  brought  forth,  and,  accom- 


The  Ship  Departs  from  Gythium  for  Pylos  237 

panied  by  Pisistratis,  Nestor's  son,  Telemachus  rode  o'er  the  wide 
plain  to  Sparta.  King  Menelaus  and  his  beautiful  wife,  Helen,  were 
highly  pleased  with  the  visit  of  the  two  princes.  Telemachus  made  the 
object  of  his  visit  known,  but  Menelaus  could  not  give  any  information 
as  to  the  reason  of  Ulysses'  long  absence  from  Ithaca.  Telemachus  and 
Pisistrates  returned  in  haste  to  Pylos,  from  whence,  laden  with  rich 
presents  from  Nestor,  Telemachus  sailed  back  to  Ithaca. 

"Yes,"  said  Benosteus,  slowly  walking  back  and  forth  on  deck, 
"when  we  arrive  at  Pylos  I  will  be  open  to  receive  inspiration  from  the 
surrounding  sights  and  the  multitude  of  people  and  I  will  greatly  add 
to  what  I  have  so  far  planned  to  dwell  upon.  I  will  not  only  speak  of 
Nestor,  who  ruled  over  three  generations  of  men,  but  also  of  the  beau 
tiful  location  of  Pylos,  and  also  of  the  great  heroism  and  bravery  dis 
played  by  the  Pylosians  at  the  famous  Siege  of  Troy.  I  will  speak  so 
as  to  surprise  them  with  their  own  greatness."  A  part  of  the  foregoing 
is  what  Benosteus  intended  to  include  in  his  oration  at  Pylos,  as  our 
ship's  principal  speaker  at  that  city.  The  ship  has  been  sailing  with 
great  speed  and  Hilicarus  says  that  we  may  arrive  at  Pylos  even 
sooner  than  he  had  expected. 

Aurora  is  just  faintly  heralding  the  coming  of  day,  Scriborites  ic  on 
deck  to  relieve  me. 

Scriborites,  day  scribe: 

The  ship  is  sailing  at  great  speed.  A  watch  from  the  mast  calls  out : 
"Pylos !  Pylos !  Pylos !"  The  ship  has  sailed  during  the  night  over  a 
great  distance  of  waters.  Captain  Arteus  is  on  deck;  also  all  of  the 
voyagers  are  coming  on  deck  in  groups.  The  ship  will  arrive  at  Pylos 
even  before  the  sun  rises  above  the  eastern  horizon. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Pylos  lies  a  short  distance  from  the  sea, 
from  which  a  small  river  runs  to  the  sea. 

"The  ship  now  has  landed  along  the  seashore  wharf  of  Pylos."  Cap 
tain  Arteus  said:  "I  myself  only  will  go  on  shore,  and  when  I  return 
I  will  give  you  full  orders." 

It  is  now  full  day.  Only  a  very  few  people  and  a  lone  woman,  beau 
tifully  dressed,  are  standing  on  the  shore,  a  short  distance  from  the 
ship.  Captain  Arteus  is  walking  in  haste  directly  toward  the  woman. 
He  seems  to  know  her.  It  looks  like  a  meeting  of  lovers.  They  seem 
to  converse  with  deep  earnestness. 

The  voyagers  are  all  crowding  around  Hilicarus,  asking  him  what 
the  sombre,  black  flag  with  the  red  heart  in  the  center,  denotes.  Hili 
carus  answered:  "No  one  knows,  it  seems,  excepting  the  Captain." 

Hilicarus  has  given  orders  to  lower  the  sails,  but  Captain  Arteus 
motions  not  to  do  so.  The  crowd  on  the  wharf  is  increasing.  From  all 
directions  people  are  wending  their  footsteps  to  the  wharf.  From  a 
castle,  not  far  distant,  a  chieftain  with  several  warriors  is  hastening 


238  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

toward  the  ship's  landing.     The  woman  has  thrown  her  arms  around 
Captain  Arteus ;  but  he  has  released  them  again. 

Arteus,  after  kissing  her  several  times,  is  rushing  back  to  our  ship. 
One  of  the  men  from  the  castle  is  trying  to  kill  Arteus  with  a  sword. 
Arteus,  in  great  desperation,  has  thrust  his  dagger  deep  into  his  antago 
nist,  who  sinks  to  the  ground.  Arteus,  with  great  bravery  and  strength, 
fights  his  way  back  to  the  ship,  with  an  ever-increasing  crowd  at  his 
heels.  Upon  being  hauled  on  the  ship,  Captain  Arteus,  in  great  excite 
ments,  shouts :  "Loosen  all  shore  ropes !  Helmsman  steer  west !"  The 
constantly  increasing  crowd  on  the  wharf,  on  seeing  what  had  taken 
place,  ran  to  and  fro,  picking  up  large  stones,  throwing  them  on  and 
toward  the  ship.  A  company  of  slingers  on  shore  were  furnished  by 
the  others  with  stones  and  a  large  number  of  stones  fell  on  deck  and 
against  the  sails.  Several  catapults  were  being  hauled  to  the  wharf, 
but  the  fair,  light  breeze  wafted  our  ship  out  of  harm's  reach.  In 
sight  of  thousands  of  shouting  and  threatening  Pylosians  our  ship 
sailed  proudly  on  its  westerly  course.  All  was  consternation  on  the 
ship.  The  Aeolus  would  never  be  allowed  to  land  at  Pylos  again,  at 
which  city,  a  short  feast  was  to  be  held,  combined  with  commerce. 

Consternation  is  a  mild  word  to  express  the  feelings  which  prevailed 
on  the  ship  through  the  unexpected  events  that  had  taken  place.  Mur 
der  and  enmity — that  was  not  in  harmony  with  the  advices  given  and 
the  object  of  the  ship's  voyage. 

Phoebus  is  shining  brightly  on  an  excited,  sullen  lot  of  adventurers. 
By  the  Captain's  orders  the  black  flag  is  being  hauled  down  and  is 
taken  to  the  Captain's  quarters.  One  of  the  seamen  said:  "The  ship 
is  going  to  sail  out  of  sight  of  land  for  a  long  time." 

'Midst  the  great  excitement  on  the  ship  the  Committee  of  Order 
steps  forth  and  Diagorax,  ascending  the  rostrum  on  the  deck,  said: 
"Fellow  voyagers,  instead  of  sailing  here  at  this  time,  our  ship  should 
have  remained  at  least  a  day  at  Pylos;  but  our  ship  can  never  land 
again  at  Pylos,  for  the  uncalled  for  enmity  created  by  Captain  Arteus 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  Pylosians.  Their  bosoms  are  filled  with 
revenge.  Your  committee  has  spoken  with  Captain  Arteus,  and  it  has 
been  agreed  that  Hilicarus,  the  ship's  second  officer,  be  called  to  this 
rostrum  to  answer  questions  put  to  him  by  your  committee,  in  regard 
to  Captain  Arteus'  surprising  escapade." 

Hilicarus  ascended  the  rostrum  and  was  asked  by  the  Committee  of 
Rules  of  Order  and  Regulations  to  state  what  he  knew  of  the  reasons 
of  Captain  Arteus'  unwarranted  escapade  at  Pylos.  He  replied  that  he 
knew  no  more  of  the  affair  than  did  the  noble  voyagers ;  knew  not  what 
the  black  flag  meant.  He  was  asked  whether  on  other  voyages  his  fel 
low  seaman,  Captain  Arteus,  had  had  similar  escapades  at  other  landing 
places. 


The  Ship  Departs  from  Pylos  239 

Hilicarus  replied,  "Never." 

Diagorax  said :  "Hilicarus,  state  what  you  know  of  Captain  Arteus' 
life  and  actions  as  a  seaman." 

Hilicarus  replied:  "Captain  Arteus  and  I  have  sailed  on  the  same 
ships  for  over  forty  moons.  Captain  Arteus'  actions  at  Pylos  were  a 
great  surprise  to  me.  Although,  in  all  other  matters  fearless,  Captain 
Arteus  is  known  by  seamen  as  being  afraid  of  women.  He  always  kept 
away  from  women  at  all  our  landing  places.  He  would  not  allow  women 
to  become  familiar  with  him.  Now  you  must  know  that  we  sailors 
who  are  so  much  away  from  land,  when  we  do  land  at  some  port,  we 
think  a  great  deal  of  women.  But  not  so  with  Captain  Arteus.  The 
most  beautiful  of  maidens  have  made  efforts  to  form  his  friendship,  but 
without  avail.  When  they  have  visited  our  ship  they  have  often  in 
sisted  that  he  should  show  them  some  courtesy.  He  treated  them  to 
sour  wine.  He  never  acted  gruffly,  or  said  an  unkind  word  to  them; 
but  his  bearing  indicated  that  they  were  not  for  him.  Being  taunted  by 
some  of  us  seamen,  he  said:  'I  will  always  treat  them  well,  because 
they  are  maidens,  for  I  also  know  a  maiden  beyond  compare,  who  to 
me  is  all  the  world.'  Some  of  you  may  have  heard  the  seamen's  songs,  one 
of  which  is: 

The  sailor,  ah,  he  kisses! 

The  maids  of  many  lands — 

Like  the  waves,  the  rigid  rocks 

Of  many  distant  strands; 

And  like  the  winds  also 

We  set  soft  cheeks  aglow 

By  kissing  often,  kissing  more, 

The  maids  of  many  a  foreign  shore. 

"Captain  Arteus  was  always  among  the  jolliest  of  the  Jolly ;  but  such 
and  similar  songs  he  never  sang  with  the  heartiness  that  we  sailors 
sang  them.  Captain  Arteus  only  smiled  when  he  saw  us  jolly,  or  walk 
with  young  maidens  who  wished  to  soften  the  hard  lot  of  a  seaman's 
life.  Noble  voyagers!  All  I  can  say  is  that  all  his  actions  seemed  to 
say :  'There  is  only  one  maiden  in  the  world  for  me.' " 

Leontena  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  Voyagers! 
We  maidens  believe  that  Captain  Arteus'  escapade  at  Pylos  should  be 
thoroughly  inquired  into.  Even  Hilicarus,  who  is  second  in  command 
of  our  ship,  says  he  was  surprised  at  the  Captain's  attempt  to  supply 
our  voyage  with  a  romance  and  tragedy.  Hilicarus  tells  us  that  our 
Captain's  bearing  always  seemed  to  say :  'There  is  only  one  maid  in  the 
world  for  me.'  Supposing  that  is  so,  why  should  our  ship  and  our  lives 
be  endangered?  Peace  and  commerce  is  our  mission  and  not  actions 
that  lead  to  enmity,  bloodshed — death.  To  be  short,  all  the  maidens 
have  agreed  unless  Captain  Arteus'  escapade  is  explained  satisfactorily 


240  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

to  all,  and  unless  it  is  promised  that  at  future  landings  no  similar  event 
shall  take  place,  we  all  will  vote  to  turn  the  prow  of  the  ship  towards 
home." 

Meander,  of  the  Committee  of  Rules  and  Order,  ascended  the  ros 
trum  and  said:  "Fellow  Maiden  Voyagers!  Most  of  the  opinions  ex 
pressed  agree  with  those  of  the  balance  of  us  voyagers,  excepting  we 
would  not  vote  for  returning  home.  We,  from  all  the  regulations  of 
seamanship  into  which  we  have  inquired,  understand  that  the  Captain 
should  remain  on  the  ship — be  the  last  man  to  leave  the  ship.  That, 
also,  we  find  is  included  in  the  Rules  of  Order  laid  down  for  our  jour 
ney.  Captain  Arteus  has  acted  just  contrary  to  those  rules  and  orders 
and  we  have  witnessed  what  the  consequences  might  have  been. 

"Fellow  Voyagers!  Captain  Arteus  has  offered  to  explain  all,  and 
now  we  will  hear  what  he  has  to  say." 

Captain  Arteus  appeared  on  the  rostrum,  standing  forth  as  a  young, 
handsome  seaman.  Captain  Arteus  began:  "I  stand  on  this  rostrum 
by  the  command  of  no  one,  excepting  my  own  command. 

"Hilicarus  spoke  to  you,  at  my  command.  I  am  Captain — I  am 
King  of  this  ship.  Such  are  the  laws  of  the  sea. 

"Noble  Voyagers!  You  need  not  stand  in  fear  that  such  an  event 
as  has  taken  place  at  Pylos  will  ever  occur  again.  You  have  a  right 
to  find  great  fault  with  my  actions  at  Pylos.  I  promise  in  this  clear 
light  of  day,  with  the  great  bright  eye  of  day  as  witness,  that  I  never 
again  will  overlook  the  object  of  our  voyage  which  is  to  be  attained 
through  peace  and  friendship.  After  I  have  fully  explained  the  ex 
traordinary  situation  at  Pylos,  you,  I  hope,  will  not  find  fault  with  me 
to  such  a  great  extent  as  you  now  do. 

"To  fully  explain,  I  feel  as  if  I  must  hold  my  heart  to  view  in  my 
hands,  as  it  were,  which  I  otherwise  would  not  have  done  for  all  the 
world ! 

"But  I  must  begin.  The  woman  to  whom  I  must  refer,  is  she  who 
stood  alone  to  one  side  a  short  distance  from  the  wharf.  Our  parents' 
homes  in  Athens  joined  each  other.  The  back  gardens  were  divided  by 
a  trellis,  both  sides  of  which  were  covered  with  grape  vines.  Near  the 
rear  end  of  the  trellis  was  an  opening,  a  narrow,  arched  portal.  Our 
fathers  were  fisherfolk.  So  you  can  see  that  the  woman  and  I  grew 
up  together;  as  girl  and  boy,  we  played  and  romped  together.  I  was 
two  years  older  than  she.  Many  seasons  did  we  together  pluck  and 
gather  the  luscious  bunches  of  grapes  that  hung  on  both  sides  of  our 
dividing  trellis,  and  place  them  in  baskets.  The  grapes,  regardless  of 
which  side  of  the  trellis  yielded  the  greater  quantity,  were  always 
divided  equally.  On  a  short  board  with  a  stone  on  one  end  balanced  by 
a  like  weight  of  grapes  on  the  other  end  of  the  board,  were  all  the 
grapes  weighed. 


Black  Flag  Incident  241 

"Time  passed  on  and  I  assisted  my  father  on  the  sea,  fishing  mostly 
the  porpura  (shell-fish)  from  which  the  dyes  are  obtained  by  which 
your  purple  robes  and  clothes  are  colored.  Many  a  present  did  I  pre 
sent  to  her  which  I  secured  on  foreign  shores ;  and  with  great  pleasure 
did  she  receive  them.  Returning,  after  an  unusually  long  absence,  we 
came  together  again  as  usual.  We  both  had  grown  near  unto  maturity. 
I  felt  we  could  not  play  and  run  as  was  our  wont  in  days  past.  Oh 
how  still  more  beautiful  she  had  grown — stately,  modest,  blooming 
young  maid.  When  looking  at  me  with  her  large,  beautiful  eyes,  how 
bashful  and  reserved  her  actions  seemed.  And  I  can  say,  strong  as  I 
was,  I  felt  the  lack  of  courage  to  look  openly  into  her  eyes,  but  looked 
at  her  more  by  glances,  perhaps.  How  much  more  precious  she  seemed 
to  have  grown.  I  was  now  a  young  man,  and  she,  a  coy,  fair  maiden. 
Oh  how  often  did  we  meet  together!  Precious  did  we  seem  to  each 
other.  Alas !  soon  I  must  go  out  to  sea  again.  I  felt  a  restless  longing 
to  express  to  her  in  words  what  our  eyes  and  actions  had  spoken  over 
and  over  again. 

"Upon  a  night  I  burned  sweet  incense  in  honor  of  Venus  and  Cupid, 
thanking  them  for  the  many  happy,  loving  days  vouchsafed  unto  us.  I 
also  invoked  their  blessings  on  the  open  expression  of  lasting  love  which 
I  would  make  on  the  coming  day.  Early  next  morning  I  heard  her 
sweet  voice  blending  with  the  songs  of  the  birds  in  the  garden  foliage. 
I  hastened  out,  plucked  the  most  beautiful  rose,  walked  through  the 
narrow  portal  and  met  her  laughing  eyes;  and  gathering  all  my  cour 
age,  with  deep,  stirring,  earnestness,  said:  'Dear,  dear  Rolene — many 
a  flower  have  I  handed  to  you  in  days  past.  But,  dearest  Rolene, 
never  before  have  I  presented  a  flower  to  you  with  such  deep  feelings 
and  earnestness  and  love  as  I  now  do  this  rose.  Dearest  Rolene,  the 
morning  dew,  still  resting  on  this  rose,  represents  the  tears  that  would 
arise  from  the  depths  of  my  heart  if  ever  any  harm  should  come  to 
you.' 

"With  a  modest,  happy  look,  she  said:  'O,  I  thank  you,  Arte,  I 
thank  you.' 

"Fastening  the  rose  to  her  bosom  and  looking  at  me  with  her  large 
blue  eyes,  she  turned  and  started  to  run  toward  the  house. 

"I  called:  'Rolene — Rolene — I  must  go  out  to  sea  tomorrow;  please 
don't  go  into  the  house.' 

"She  came  coyly  back  to  me,  and  I  said:  'Rolene,  come  let  us  go 
into  the  summer  house,  I  have  something  I  long  to  talk  about.'  She 
said:  'Why,  yes.' 

"On  that  early  morning,  sitting  in  that  vine-covered,  square,  summer 
house,  I,  with  a  determination  not  to  delay  any  longer,  asked;  and 
she,  with  a  happy  countenance,  looking  down,  her  bosom  heaving  with 
deep  emotion,  answered:  'Why,  yes.'  All  I  will  not  rehearse — only 


242  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

that  with  tears  of  joy  glistening  in  the  corner  of  her  eye,  we  went 
forth  out  of  the  summer  house  as  bride  and  groom,  happiest  of  mor 
tals. 

"Time  passed  on — I  commanded  a  small  ship  of  my  own  and  always 
was  prosperous.  How  could  it  have  been  otherwise?  For  it  was  all  a 
work  of  love;  all,  all  for  her  to  be.  How  happy  did  she  greet  me  on 
my  return  from  the  sea!  I  asked  her  whether  she  would  prefer  my 
face  smooth,  without  a  beard.  Twisting  my  lip  beard,  she  replied,  'Oh 
no,  your  kisses  would  be  too  much  like  a  woman's.'  From  that  time  I 
have  kept  my  beard  trimmed  only.  Often  when  a  great  storm  swept 
o'er  the  seas,  she  would  cry,  I  was  told,  fearing  that  I  might  have  met 
disaster.  Tears  express  the  deepest  emotions  of  the  heart — of  love — of 
affection. 

"I  may  say  that  it  was  our  past  love  that  made  me  Captain  of  this 
great  ship.  On  many  a  tree,  on  foreign  shores,  I  cut  our  names  within 
a  heart.  As  the  cut  of  name  and  heart  in  the  bark  of  the  trees  en 
larged,  so  also  I  thought  grew  our  hearts  and  love  for  each  other.  My 
whole  life  has  been  kept  pure  and  I  may  say  noble  through  our  love, 
because  I  loved  her  so.  It  was  her  unbounded  love  for  me  and  my 
deep,  unending  love  for  her  that  spurred  me  on  with  a  feeling  that  I 
could  overcome  all  obstacles  and  rise  out  and  above  the  lot  of  those 
with  whom  I  first  labored.  I  labored  and  planned  with  a  determination 
to  rise  above  my  natural  surroundings.  I  gradually  prospered  and  was 
a  welcome  listener  to  the  wisdom  of  our  Athenian  philosophers.  I 
heard  them  say :  He  that  strives,  plans,  labors  earnestly  and  thought 
fully  in  his  trade,  such  may  stand  before  Kings.  I  thoughtfully  labored 
and  planned  and,  encouraged  by  the  matchless  power  of  love,  attained 
to  heights  of  which  I  never  before  dared  dream.  My  whole  being  was 
wrapped  up  with  the  thought  and  hope  that  we  should  have  a  home 
far  better  than  those  who  were  formerly  our  neighbors. 

"While  on  the  sea,  great  storms  of  long  duration  swept  o'er  the 
waters,  destroying  many  ships  and  overwhelming  many  seamen.  My 
ship  was  driven  on  the  shores  of  a  far-off  coast.  At  our  Athens  home 
our  sailor  folks  knew  of  the  sad  fate  that  had  overtaken  so  many  of 
our  ships  and  seamen;  but  could  not  get  any  tidings  of  me. 

"It  took  many  moons  before  we  again  landed  in  our  native  city  of 
Athens.  Rumor  had  it  that  I  and  my  ship  had  been  lost.  As  our  long 
absence  could  not  be  accounted  for,  the  rumor  became  almost  a  cer 
tainty.  I  and  ship  were  given  up  as  lost,  though  some  still  hoped  for 
our  safety. 

"During  all  that  time,  it  is  said,  my  dear  Rolene  was  inconsolable. 
And  during  that  long  time  of  absence  it  happened  that  a  rich  citizen 
from  some  distant  country  sojourned  in  Athens.  He  had  set  it  in  his 
mind  that  some  beautiful  Athenian  maiden  should  accompany  him  to 


Black  Flag  Incident  243 

his  home  as  his  wife.  As  a  rich  barterer  and  trader,  he  went  to  many 
homes,  displaying  fine  jewelry  of  silver,  gold  and  precious  stones.  At 
the  home  of  my  dear  Rolene  he  also  displayed  his  glittering  jewelry. 
Her  father  bought  some  jewelry  for  Rolene.  The  barterer  also  got  into 
conversation  with  her.  He  called  often  and  asked  her  to  become  his 
wife.  She  had  no  thought  at  first,  saying  I  would  return.  He  told  her 
it  was  certainly  known  that  I  and  my  ship  were  lost  forever  or  I  would 
have  arrived  home  long  ago.  She  would  not  yield.  Then  he  sketched 
on  papyrus  his  castle,  in  which  she  should  dwell  as  his  queen.  He  also 
gave  her  costly  gifts  of  various  kinds  of  jewelry. 

"Thus  by  persistent  intrigue  and  persuasive  glittering  gold  he  moved 
her  to  become  his  wife  and  thus  journey  with  him  to  Pylos.  Yes,  by 
costly,  glittering  jewelry,  he  persuaded  her  to  become  his  wife!  But 
he  never  did,  nor  never  could  win  her  heart.  When  I  returned  from 
my  journey  I  first  turned  my  footsteps  to  her  home.  When  I  stepped 
into  her  home,  she  was  gone.  Her  parents  greeted  me,  but  immediately 
wrung  their  hands  and  burst  into  loud  tears.  Between  their  sobs,  they 
could  hardly  speak  the  words  that  she  had  gone  away.  I  at  first 
thought  she  had  died,  and  now,"  said  Captain  Arteus,  with  deep  emo 
tion,  "I  know  that  she  had  died — was  even  worse  than  dead  to  me. 
Thus  in  deep  sorrow  their  actions  told  me  all.  My  probable  death,  his 
castle,  fair  promises  and  glittering  jewels  had  brought  her  to  the  hesi 
tating  point  which  he  overcame  by  escorting  her,  half -willing,  to  his 
chariot,  in  which  they  drove  to  his  distant  home  in  a  country  only 
found  out  by  me,  after  very  many  moons,  from  a  seaman  friend  of 
mine.  He  told  me  that  he  had  seen  her  near  a  castle  near  the  city  of 
Pylos,  and  that  she  was  the  wife  of  a  rich  man  who  owned  the  castle. 
That  was  after  I  had  been  chosen  as  Captain  of  this  ship.  I  asked  him 
to  try  on  his  next  landing  at  Pylos  to  meet  and  speak  to  her  in  secret, 
and  to  tell  her  that  I  still  loved  her  and  would  like  to  speak  with  her 
once  again.  He  should  assure  her  that  I  would  not  use  any  force  and 
only  wished  once  more  to  have  the  great  happiness  of  speaking  and 
talking  to  her;  that  I  was  Captain  of  a  large  wonder  ship  and  that 
within  a  full  moon  I  expected  to  make  Pylos  its  second  landing  place. 
Tell  her,"  I  said,  "that  my  heart  is  forever  surrounded  with  deep,  dark 
sorrow.  That  when  the  ship  arrives  she  can  know  of  my  presence  on 
the  ship  by  a  black  flag  with  a  red  heart  in  its  center,  flying  from  the 
top  of  the  hindmost  mast." 

At  this  point,  Captain  Arteus  ordered  a  seaman  to  get  the  black 
flag  from  his  quarters,  ordering  two  seamen  to  spread  out,  hold  out  the 
flag  to  the  view  of  the  voyagers,  after  which  he  continued : 

"Noble  Voyagers!  Now  you  know  what  the  black  flag  meant,  also 
the  red  heart  in  its  center,  surrounded  with  deep,  black  sorrow.  Alone, 
early  in  the  morning,  we  have  seen  my  dear  Rolene  standing  near  the 


244  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

wharf;  having  espied  our  ship  by  its  black  flag,  she  knew  that  I  was 
aboard  and  as  Captain." 

Captain  Arteus  ordered  the  seaman  to  wrap  the  black  flag  around 
a  stone,  tied  tightly,  and  then  gave  orders  to  throw  it  into  the  sea. 

"Now,  noble  voyagers,"  continued  Captain  Arteus,  "There  will  be  no 
more  danger  that  a  black  flag  will  again  be  hoisted  at  any  of  our 
future  landing  places.  The  black  flag,  with  its  red  heart,  is  now  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea.  Oh,  how  often  have  I  wished  that  some  high  moun 
tains  of  the  sea  would  overwhelm  me  and  send  me  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sea,  so  that  my  restless,  aching  heart  would  cease  to  beat.  Often,  when 
standing  on  a  high  rock,  overhanging  the  sea,  I  intended  to  leap  down 
to  the  wave-washed  rocks  below. 

"But  a  still  voice  seemed  to  say :  'Don't,  don't.'  'Be  a  man !' 
such  as  Rolene  would  have  been  worthy  of. 

"But  in  spite  of  that  silent  admonition  I  would  have  ended  my  life 
many  moons  ago  if  I  had  not  attended  an  oration  of  one  of  our  Athe 
nian  philosophers,  who  spoke  on  cowardice.  The  part  that  struck  me 
was  when  he  spoke  of  Metals,  saying :  'Yellow  metal,  if  washed  with 
plain  water,  will  not  show  whether  it  is  gold  or  common  base  metal.' 
'No,'  he  continued,  'it  must  be  put  to  a  far  more  intense  test  in  order 
to  find  out  its  true  quality  and  worth.  It  must  be  put  to  a  strong  acid 
test;  then  its  true,  real  worth  can  be  judged  aright.  So,  too,'  he  said, 
'man  must,  through  strife  and  adversity,  display  the  true  noble  metal 
he  is  made  of.  In  a  calm  or  in  a  fine  breeze  one  cannot  well  know 
whether  a  man  is  a  true  seafarer  or  not.  Only,'  he  said,  'when  the 
elements  all  seem  to  be  angry,  does  the  real  sailor  coine  to  view.  So  in 
all  life,'  he  said,  'he  that  remains  a  true  man,  in  spite  of  all  obstacles, 
misfortunes,  adversity  and  unsatisfied  love,  is  entitled  to  honor,  for 
such  are  the  true,  courageous  of  the  earth,  in  whom  the  gods  delight. 
Such  who,  in  adversity  of  any  kind,  throw  their  lives  away,  indicate 
and  admit  that  they  have  not  the  power  and  courage  to  battle  against 
fate.  Such  are  truly  named  Cowards.' 

"After  listening  to  that  oration  on  Cowardice  I  swore  an  oath  to 
the  gods  that  I  would  live,  labor  and  nobly  plan  onward  unto  the  rest 
of  my  natural  days.  And,  noble  voyagers,  I  shall  labor  and  help  plan 
thoughtfully,  to  make  this  grand  commercial  adventure  a  success.  The 
Alpha  and  Omega  of  all  my  efforts  shall  be  and  are  toward  achieving 
success.  ( Applause. ) 

"Rolene,  though  alive,  yet  is  dead  to  me.  How  beautiful  she  was 
and  as  such  will  she  ever  stand  before  me.  Sitting  or  walking,  stand 
ing  or  dancing,  her  every  action,  pose  and  carriage  showed  a  majesty 
and  grace  that  is  accorded  to  mortals  by  the  favor  of  the  gods  only. 
Noble  voyagers,  you  saw  her  greet  me  with:  'Oh  Arte,'  and  a  kiss — 
saw  us  kiss  each  other.  Much  was  said  in  that  short  time.  She  wished 


Black  Flag  Incident  245 

to  ,flee  with  me.  I  would  have  fled  with  her  to  the  ship  and  her  pres 
ence,  I  would  have  assured,  would  not  have  interfered  with  the  object 
of  our  voyage.  She  said  at  no  time  was  she  allowed  to  be  out  of  the 
sight  of  some  one  of  her  husband's  warriors. 

"As  it  was,  I  myself  barely  escaped  with  my  life.  I  would  have 
thrown  my  arms  around  her  and  remained  to  battle,  I  whom  fear  of 
death  has  abandoned. 

"But  the  thought  of  my  mission,  under  oath  to  the  gods,  your  wel 
fare,  and  the  object  of  the  voyage  prompted  me  to  flee  back  to  the 
ship.  She  said  that  she  still  loved  me — only  me;  that  she  had  been 
told  and  thought  I  was  lost  at  sea ;  that  her  act  had  punished  her  a 
thousandfold.  She  showed  me  the  gold  bracelets  which  I  had  given 
her  which  she  valued  above  all  her  other  many  jewels. 

"I  said:    'Dear  Rolene,  your  husband's  castle  is  a  fine  structure.' 

"She  said  with  disgust  and  deep  emotion :  'Oh,  cold  stones,  and  a 
colder  heart  has  he  still,  who  dwells  within.  My  heart  also  has  grown 
cold  and  only  warms  at  the  thought  of  you.'  I  do  not  strongly  blame 
her  to  wed  the  Pylosian  because,  firstly,  she  thought  I  was  lost  at  sea ; 
and  even  if  she  could  not  have  been  certain  of  that,  I  cannot  strongly 
blame  her  for  the  gods  have  not  made  women  strong  enough  at  all 
times  to  withstand  persuasive,  glittering  gold.  A  saying  also  we  know : 
'It  must  be  a  strong  chest  that  cannot  be  opened  with  a  golden  key.' 
Still  her  heart  does  not  belong  to  him.  That  will  always  only  beat 
warmly  at  the  thought  of  me. 

"Noble  voyagers,  the  magic  power  of  love  has  made  me  what  I  am — 
arisen  above  and  away  from  my  first  surroundings.  All  great  deeds 
men  do  are  moved  by  the  power  of  love.  Love  for  the  charming  Helen 
has  caused  nations  to  war.  The  city  of  Troy,  in  its  fall,  felt  the  irre 
sistible  power  of  love. 

"Brave  Athenians,  the  rules  of  order  on  our  ship,  beg  Aphrodite 
(Venus),  and  her  son  Cupid  not  to  alight  among  the  ship's  noble  voy 
agers.  And  it  is  well  that  the  ship's  rules  so  decree. 

"But,  brave  Athenians,  after  our  ship  has  returned  successfully  to 
Athens  again,  truly  pray  to  the  fair  Goddess  of  Love  and  to  her  son  to 
direct  his  darts  to  receptive  hearts — to  grant  you  love,  the  most  pleas 
ant  and  most  precious  and  most  powerful  gift  the  gods  can  bestow  upon 
mortal  man.  To  him  whom  love  is  given,  all  labor  and  planning  is 
turned  into  a  work  of  love.  To  him  whom  love  is  given  how  much 
more  beautiful  is  the  world — by  night — by  day!  The  sun,  moon  and 
stars  shine  with  an  added  lustre.  All  things  in  nature  seem  to  greet 
one  with  friendly  eye.  All  love  a  lover;  even  the  gods,  it  is  said,  look 
down  upon  him  benignantly.  The  fair  young  form  and  face  of  my  love  1 
one  will  never  become  erased  from  my  mind's  eye.  Ever  will  she  re 
main  young  and  fair.  The  memory  of  her  will  also  keep  me  young 


246  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

unto  old  age.  I  will  see  her,  as  upon  a  time,  returning  from  my  sea 
voyage,  she  having  dreamed  that  I  was  lost  in  a  storm,  with  her  heavy 
hair  disheveled,  tears  running  over  her  rosy  cheeks.  How  she  kept  on 
crying,  first  for  fear  and  then  for  joy,  upon  my  safe  return !  How  I  took 
her  on  my  lap,  put  my  hand  back  of  her  wealth  of  hair,  and  kissed  her 
until  her  large  eyes  danced  with  joy!  But  oh!  far  oftener  will  her 
beautiful  young  face  appear  to  me,  as  upon  my  many  returns  from 
sea,  when  she  would  run  and  greet  me  with  her  sweet,  loving  voice 
and  looking  up  with  her  large,  beautiful  eyes,  was  eager  to  receive  my 
kisses  and  loving  endearments. 

"Thus  will  I  strive  to  keep  her  before  my  eyes  forever — My  Rolene — 
my  beautiful  young  love.  True,  the  longings  and  yearnings  of  my 
heart,  deprived  of  its  loved  one,  seems  to  make  it  grow  smaller.  But, 
O,  I  shall  always  battle  onward,  so  that  if  she  ever  again  should  hear 
of  me,  she  would  know  that  I  courageously  had  a  heart  for  any  fate — 
know  that  I  was  worthy  of  her,  and  that  I  battle  onward,  assisted  and 
inspired  through  the  loving  remembrance  of  her. 

"Noble  voyagers,  I  only  wish  to  add  that  the  love  I  hold  for  fair 
Rolene,  though  she  be  dead  to  me,  will  remain  in  my  heart,  though  sur 
rounded  with  sorrow,  as  an  inspiration  to  greater  deeds.  This  power 
of  love  given  to  me — the  remembrance  of  her  will  serve  to  assist  you 
all  in  making  this  voyage  a  grand  commercial  success  to  the  honor  and 
glory  of  our  beloved  Athens."  (Great  applause.) 

After  the  applause  ceased  the  maidens  called  out:  "Orientes, 
Orientes."  Orientes  lithely  and  gracefully  ascended  the  rostrum 
with  a  happy,  joyful  countenance,  and  said:  "There  are  two  things 
about  Captain  Arteus'  address  that  have  pleased  us  maidens  greatly. 
Firstly,  he  has  promised  that  no  more  black  flag  incidents  shall  ever 
take  place  again.  His  noble  assurance  had  dispelled  all  fears.  The 
black  red-heart  flag  will  not  wave  from  our  ship's  mast  again,  resting 
as  it  does,  on  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  Secondly,  we  were  delighted,  on 
listening  to  Captain  Arteus'  narrative,  because  it  allowed  him  to  use 
words  which  we  voyagers  must  not  express.  The  foam-born  goddess 
and  her  archer  son  are  not  allowed  to  alight  among  us.  The  realm 
and  affairs  over  which  she  holds  sway,  we  dare  not  speak  of  on  this 
ship.  But  Captain  Arteus  has,  to  our  delight,  over  and  over  again, 
spoken  the  word  that  names  what  he  calls  matchless  power.  He  em 
phasized  that  it  is  the  most  pleasant — most  precious  and  most  powerful 
gift  the  gods  can  bestow  upon  man.  To  him,  whom  it  is  given,  he  said 
what  otherwise  would  be  obstacles,  vanish  like  mist  before  the  rising 
sun.  Oh,  he  has  spoken  so  beautifully  because  he  has  felt  so  deeply. 
With  our  delight  is  also  mingled  a  feeling  of  sorrow  for  Captain  Arteus 
We  can  fully  realize,  as  he  himself  said,  that  his  heart  is  growing 
smaller  under  the  strain  of  deep  longings  and  yearnings  unanswered. 


Black  Flag  Incident  247 

We  were  all  ears  whtn  Captain  Arteus  advised  that  on  our  ship's  suc 
cessful  return  to  Athens  prayer  should  also  ascend  to  the  foam-born 
goddess,  asking  her  to  bestow  that  which  is  the  greatest  and  most 
precious  gift  that  can  be  vouchsafed  unto  mortal  man. 

"We  must  admit  that  on  listening  to  Captain  Arteus'  interesting  nar 
rative  it  widened  our  chests,  made  our  hearts  larger  and  beat  more 
strongly  for  the  time.  I  will,  however,  venture  to  recite  the  verse 
which  was  inspired  by  Captain  Arteus'  deep  remarks. 

Bless  the  day  when  Venus  rose 

From  the  ocean's  deep  repose; 

From  the  sea-foam — fresh  and  bright — 

Rising  to  Olympian  height; 

Where  the  Gods  in  council  meet, 

There  she  holds  an  honored  seat. 

But,  alas !   We  here  on  ship 

Never  dare  pass  o'er  a  lip 

Words  that  Venus  tells  us  plain, 

Silent — dumb,  we  must  remain. 

For  on  ship  she  must  not  be, 

Thus  the  rules,  by  man's  decree. 

Yes,  fair  Cupid,  he  must  flee — 

Here  he  must  not  show  his  face; 

On  our  ship  he  has  no  place. 

O,  if  he  should  ever  come, 

All  of  us  would  have  to  run, 

And  each  heart  with  shield  protect ; 

To  his  arrows  must  object. 

"Oh,  I  must  not  speak  longer  or  I  may  utter  words  as  if  I  were 
under  the  spell  of  the  fair  goddess  myself.  After  listening  to  Captain 
Arteus'  explanations,  I  am  appointed  to  say  for  the  maidens,  we  have 
no  intention  of  voting  for  the  ship's  return  to  Athens."  (Applause.) 

As  scribe,  I  record:  Orlentes'  bosom  heaved,  cheeks  flushed, 
eyes  sparkled  visibly  as  she  spoke  of  the  Captain's  deep  longings  and 
yearnings  of  the  heart.  Truly,  if  ever  the  eyes  begin  to  talk  to  each 
other  on  this  ship,  what  will  happen?  How  will  it  all  end? 

Benosteus  was  asked  by  the  voyagers  to  ascend  the  rostrum.  He 
said: 

"Fellow  Adventurers:  You  had  placed  the  duty  upon  me  to  hold 
the  principal  oration  at  Pylos.  Anaxogerous,  the  night  scribe,  knows 
how  I,  while  the  stars  were  still  shining,  walked  to  and  fro  on  deck, 
rehearsing  a  part  of  what  I  intended  to  include  in  my  address  to  the 
Pylosians.  I  already  saw,  in  my  imagination,  the  multitude  eagerly 
picking  up  the  words  as  they  passed  from  my  lips,  and  I  also  heard, 
in  my  imagination,  roaring  applause,  after  many  of  my  stirring  re 
marks;  such  as:  'Noble  Pylosians,  the  god-gifted  Homer  has  sung  of 
your  own  Nestor  not  only  as  one  of  the  greatest  of  heroes  but  also  as 


248  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

one  who  has  wisely  ruled  over  three  generations  of  men.'  Also  heard 
I  applause  resound  after:  'Brave  Pylosians,  I  claim  that  we  have  the 
honor  of  calling  you  friends.  Our  Athenian  and  Pylosian  friendship 
comes  down  to  us  from  the  friendship  formed  on  the  battlefield  of  Troy 
between  our  noble  Menestheus  and  your  wise  counselor  Nestor.'  Also 
did  I  hear  deafening  applause  after :  'Pylosians !  Friends !  Let  us  listen 
to  what  Homer  sings: 

"No  chief  like  Thee,  Menestheus,  Greece  could  yield 
To  marshal  armies  in  a  dusty  field; 
Nestor  alone,  improved  by  length  of  days 
For  martial  conduct,  bore  an  equal  praise." 

"My  ears  were  already  pleased  with  tremendous  applause  after 
saying:  'Pylosian  Friends,  our  eyes  are  beholding  a  scene  which  to  us 
is  sacred.  Your  wave-washed,  sandy  coast  delights  our  eyes.  It  was, 
valiant  Pylosians,  as  is  well  known  to  you,  from  this  sandy  coast  that 
your  valiant  forefathers  sailed  to  join  the  other  Grecian  contingents  on 
their  voyage  to  Troy.'  Also  tremendous,  deafening,  uproarious  applause 
did  I  hear  after  saying:  'Noble  Pylosians,  let  us  further  recall  what 
Homer  sang: 

"In  ninety  sail,  from  Pylos'  sandy  coast 
Nestor,  the  sage,  conducts  his  chosen  host." 

"Fellow  voyagers,  I  already  beheld  how  the  multitude  before  me 
with  unending  wave-like  applause  would  inspire  me  to  give  expression 
to  such  noble  sayings  as  the  world  had  never  heard  before.  If,  after 
uttering  what  I  though  a  striking  sentence  they  would  not  cheer  I  would 
have  paused  so  as  to  give  them  still  a  chance  to  applaud.  Alas!  Cap 
tain  Arteus'  black  flag  incident  has  brought  my  oratorial  opportunities 
to  naught.  Captain  Arteus'  heart  is  surrounded  by  sorrow;  and  I  can 
also  say  that  on  seeing  our  ship  waft  away  from  Pylos  without  making 
its  intended  stay,  I  can  also  say  my  heart  was  surrounded  by  a  great 
disappointment.  As  the  maidens  are  satisfied  with  Captain  Arteus'  ex 
planation,  we  men  surely  are.  Like  the  black  flag  that  rests  on  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  so,  too,  may  the  black  flag  incident  rest  and  never 
again  be  recalled  to  sight  or  to  memory.  Bravely,  joyfully,  onward 
o'er  the  swaying  sea  to  new  lands  and  scenes,  that  is  the  immediate 
mission  of  our  fast  ship."  (Applause.) 


CHAPTER  IX 


SAILING   TO  SICILY 

The  wind  has  changed  and  is  in  an  adverse  direction,  blowing  from 
the  west.  Many  of  the  sails  have  been  hauled  down  and  fastened  to 
the  yards.  Our  ship  must  now  beat  against  the  gale.  The  blue  vault 
above  is  covered  by  a  dark,  heavy,  cloudy  veil.  The  storm  is  becoming 
violent  and  the  seas  are  running  high.  Huge,  white-crested  billows 
dash  against  our  ship  as  if  objecting  to  our  ship's  further  progress. 
Masts,  yards,  and  swaying  rigging  are  knocking  and  creaking  under  the 
relentless  force  of  the  storm.  All  things  on  shipboard  not  securely 
fastened,  demand  immediate  attention.  Hilicarus,  the  second  officer,  is 
saying :  "It's  a  grand,  sublime  sight — the  ship's  ascending  and  descend 
ing  the  huge,  surging  billows — nobly  and  gallantly  battling  against  the 
force  of  the  storm."  Sailors  are  pulling  one  of  the  large  yard-arms  into 
a  desired  angle.  They  are  loudly  singing  a  storm  song,  which  the 
whistling  of  the  storm  through  the  rigging  accompanies  quite  har 
moniously.  The  power  of  the  storm  seems  to  have  blown  the  glow  of 
health  from  the  maidens  cheeks  and  also  from  some  of  the  men's.  One 
of  the  ship's  officers'  says :  "Neptune  requires,  as  a  tribute,  that  voy 
agers  at  the  first  storm  should  give  a  feast  to  the  finny  tribes  that  rove 
in  the  depths  of  his  liquid  realm  below  Maidens  and  some  of  the  men 
are  involuntarily  obeying  and  paying  tribute  according  to  Neptune's 
inviolable,  unalterable,  inveterate  law. 

The  otherwise  blooming  Toradia,  with  a  very  pale  dejected  counten 
ance,  is  saying  to  Marstenes : 

"The  climate  here  at  sea  must  be  very  unhealthy,  for  we  all  feel 
very,  very,  rery  sick." 

Marstenes  said:  "I  don't  feel  any  too  well,  either,  but  we  must  all 
endure  with  patience  and  get  used  to  the  climate,  like  sailors  must." 

All  of  the  maidens  and  most  of  the  men  voyagers  are  down  to  their 
respective  quarters.  The  sky  is  darkening — the  storm  increasing.  It  is 
raining.  The  ship  is  battling  against  the  adverse  winds  and  waves  with 
defiant  determination.  'Midst  the  powerful  splashing  of  the  seas,  the 
howling  of  winds  through  rigging  and  the  creaking  of  masts  and  yards 
are  heard  the  shouting  commands  given  to  sailors  by  the  officers.  What 
a  change  the  climate  on  this  part  of  the  seas  has  exerted  more  or  less 
on  all  of  us  voyagers — changed  rosy  cheeks,  sparkling  eyes,  laughter, 

249 


250  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

song  and  jollity,  to  wan,  pale  countenances  and  sickly,  dejected  spirits. 
"Afraid  of  the  storm?  Oh,  no — rather  would  be  overboard  than  on 
board" — appearances  and  manners  seem  to  say. 

Darkness  is  coming  over  the  waters.  The  night  scribe  is  here  to 
relieve  me. 

Anaxogerous : 

Our  ship  is  encountering  its  first  night's  storm.  A  rainy,  howling 
night  is  before  us.  On  such  a  black,  stormy  night  as  this  the  senses  of 
hearing  and  feeling  are  almost  more  important  than  that  of  seeing ;  for 
intense,  impenetrable  darkness  is  spread  all  around.  What  is  there  in 
a  night  like  this  for  a  night  scribe  to  record?  Nothing  to  see  but  dark 
ness;  to  hear  and  feel  but  the  whistling  of  the  storm — surging  of  the 
powerful  threatening  seas,  knocking  and  creaking  of  the  booms  and  rig 
ging,  and  the  grand  ship  plunging  against  the  huge,  heaving,  running 
billows.  It  is  good  that  I  have  had  a  chance  to  practice  and  learn  to 
inscribe  the  records  during  our  first  starlight  night.  Now  I  can  write 
on  this  dark  night  even  with  my  eyes  closed.  It  cannot  be  expected 
that  a  night  scribe's  record  will  appear  as  neat  as  the  records  of  the 
day  scribe,  written  by  the  light  of  day.  All  is  dark — silence;  excepting 
the  intense  laboring  of  the  ship  and  the  enraged  elements.  Well  is  it 
that  I  can  shelter  myself  under  the  lee  side  of  the  rostrum  from  the 
driving  rain. 

I  asked  Hilicarus,  in  loud  tones  of  course,  how  with  night's  impene 
trable  darkness  all  around,  it  could  be  known  in  which  direction  the 
ship  was  sailing?  He  replied,  loudly  and  shortly,  in  the  'midst  of  the 
howling  storm :  "We  don't  know  for  certain  in  which  direction  we  are 
sailing.  We  can't  know.  We  only  know  that  the  wind  started  to  blow 
from  the  west  and  believe  it  is  still  blowing  from  that  direction.  We 
are  beating  in  short  tacks  against  the  wind.  We  are  bound  for  Sicily. 
With  no  stars  visible  in  the  vault  above  and  no  shores  to  be  seen  in 
the  night,  we  cannot  be  certain  of  our  direction.  At  Sicily  and  further 
on,"  he  continued,  "we  will  not  sail  too  far  a  distance  from  land.  In  a 
black,  dark  night  like  this,  we  can  know  nothing  of  direction  and  must 
sail  slowly,  and  better  at  times  to  lie  at  anchor,  if  possible,  until  we  are 
again  able  to  observe  directions.  Darkness  and  fog  are  our  greatest 
dangers."  Thus  answered  our  second  officer. 

This  black  night  reminds  me  of  what  one  of  our  profound  Athenian 
philosophers  once  said:  "We  don't  know  where  we're  going  to,  but  we 
know  we  are  on  the  way." 

So  we  can  also  say,  we  don't  know  in  what  direction  our  ship  is 
sailing,  but  we  know  it  is  sailing  on  its  way  towards  somewhere  and 
will  arrive  somewhere  to  our  welfare  or  destruction,  perhaps.  The 
Fates  alone  can  tell.  Our  greatest  longing  now  is  for  stars  or  daylight 
to  appear.  This  restless,  dark  night  seems  of  unusual  duration.  The 


Sailing  to  Sicily  251 

fierceness  of  the  storm  has  greatly  abated.  Back  of  us  somewhat,  over 
the  stern  of  the  ship,  the  darkness  is  slightly  penetrable. 

Hilicarus,  second  officer,  says :  "Now  we  know  again  where  east  is. 
The  first  faint  shimmer  of  dawn  is  noticeable." 

Rain  has  ceased  and  the  seas  have  lessened  their  fury  perceptibly. 
The  clouds  in  the  east  are  cleared  away  and  Aurora  is  reseating  the 
restless  expanse  of  ocean.  Phoebus  has  now  fully  arisen,  spreading 
added  lustre  over  the  billowy  ocean  scene.  What  a  wondrously  beau 
tiful  change  from  the  pitchy  darkness  of  the  stormy  night  to  the  bright 
sunshine  of  day ! 

The  day  scribe  is  on  deck  and  I  can  go  to  my  quarters. 

Scriborites : 

The  intensely  fierce,  boisterous  night  is  followed  by  a  clear,  less 
stormy  day.  The  fury  of  the  waves  has  abated.  Men  voyagers  are 
coming  on  deck.  The  wind  is  still  adverse;  but  the  ship  is  sailing 
proudly.  The  maidens  are  also  now  coming  on  deck.  The  ship  is  given 
a  greater  spread  of  canvas.  Captain  Arteus  says:  "The  ship  will  not 
make  great  progress  towards  its  goal."  The  pale,  wan  countenances 
and  sickly,  spiritless  looking  eyes  and  manners  of  the  maidens  and 
men  also  seem  to  have  disappeared,  and  instead,  color  is  again  coming 
back  to  their  cheeks.  Laughter  and  song  are  being  heard  among  the 
voyagers — both  men  and  maidens.  All  seem  to  have  become  accustomed 
to  the  climate  out  on  this  part  of  the  sea,  just  as  the  maidens  thought 
it  would  be. 

Keltoites,  one  of  the  men  voyagers  who  knows  every  bone  in  the 
human  body,  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  adventurers,  we 
all  have  been  more  or  less  sick.  I  believe  we  can't  deny  that.  The  sick 
ness  was  caused  by  the  unhealthy  climate  of  a  certain  part  of  the  sea 
over  which  our  ship  was  sailing.  So  explained  our  maidens.  But  it 
makes  no  difference  what  caused  the  general  sickness,  many,  beyond  all 
doubt,  felt  sick  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word. 

THE  POWER  OF  MUSIC 

"Now  I  propose  that  in  order  to  restore  our  full  glow  of  health  again 
and  to  banish  even  the  memory  of  our  illness,  that  we  resort  to  the 
wonderful,  health-restoring  power  of  song  and  music.  And  now,  fellow 
voyagers,  while  I  am  standing  on  this  rostrum,  as  I  don't  expect  to 
appear  on  it  again,  I  will  give  my  views — allow  me  to  change  that :  I 
will  give  the  views  of  some  of  our  most  noted  past  and  present  Athe 
nian  philosophers  on  the  influence  of  music  in  regard  to  health.  Music 
is  a  combination  of  agreeable  sounds.  Disagreeable  sounds — noises — 
are  not  music  and  are  detrimental  to  health.  Agreeable  combinations 
of  sounds,  through  the  ear,  vibrate  wave-like  through  every  fibre  of  our 
body,  muscles,  heart  and  brain,  producing  an  agreeable  and  exhilarating 
feeling  of  buoyancy,  courage,  hope  and  strength. 


252  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"One  of  our  Athenian  orators  once  said  of  Music :  'The  finest  of  all 
musical  instruments  is  the  very  air  itself.  Air,  put  in  motion, 
through  the  voice  or  proper  instrument  in  such  a  manner  as  to  call 
forth  a  combination  of  agreeable  sounds,  creates  music.  Yes,'  he 
said,  'the  air  is  a  great  musical  instrument.  It  only  requires  a  gifted 
voice  or  a  knowledge  of  setting  the  grand  air  instrument  into  motion 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  agreeable  combinations  of  sounds,  and 
music  floats  in  the  air,  vibrates  agreeably  to  our  ears,  nerves  and  brain 
— and  whole  body.'  There  is  music  in  the  air  all  around  us.  Standing 
alone  in  the  night  along  the  ocean  shore,  how  sublime  is  its  musical 
roar.  And  listening  thus,  one  cannot  help  thinking  how  in  endless 
moons  past  and  in  endless  moons  to  come,  other  mortals  have  and  will 
listen  to  the  very  same  old  ocean's  musical  roar  with  awe  and  deep 
reverence.  I  will  not  rehearse  all  that  I  have  heard  our  Athenian 
philosophers  say  in  their  orations  on  music.  But,  in  short,  I  will  only 
indicate  the  power  and  beneficial  effects  of  Music  in  regard  to  health. 
Euphonites,  one  of  our  most  famous  physicians  of  Athens,  who  is  well 
known  to  many  of  us,  always  carries  a  musical  instrument  with  him 
when  called  upon  to  attend  the  sick.  He  is  very  familiar  to  many  of 
us  as  he  walks  the  streets  of  Athens,  carrying  his  musical  instrument  on 
the  way  to  the  sick.  Besides  having  a  profound  knowledge  of  the 
human  form  divine,  causes  of  its  sickness  and  remedies  for  the  curing 
of  its  ills,  he  also  has  a  deep  knowledge  of  the  beneficial  curative  pow 
ers  of  music  in  regard  to  many  of  the  ills  human  flesh  and  particularly 
the  mind  is  heir  to.  Euphonites  has  a  manly,  very  agreeable  melodious 
voice,  and  plays  his  musical  instrument  with  great  skill.  I  have  heard 
it  said  by  many  who  have  knowledge  of  his  cures  that  many  are  the 
human  ills  that  can  be  eradicated  speedily  and  surely  by  the  agreeable, 
mysterious  power  of  music.  It  has  come  to  be  a  saying  in  Athens,  as 
we  know  of  late:  'A  musician  is  often  better  than  a  physician.' 

"Fellow  Adventurers,  I  predict  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when 
all  of  our  Athenian  physicians  will,  in  addition  to  a  profound  knowledge 
of  the  human  form  and  the  healing  art,  acquire  a  true  knowledge  of  the 
mysterious  power  of  music  as  a  curative  agent — will  at  least  be  re 
quired  to  skillfully  play  some  melodious  instrument.  It  will  then  be  a 
common  sight  to  see  all  physicians  carrying  a  small  lyre  or  some  other 
musical  instrument  while  on  their  way  to  the  sick. 

"It  is  well  known  to  all  of  us  how  laborious  and  tiresome  and  ex 
hausting  dancing  would  be  without  music.  What  great  strength  music 
lends  to  muscle,  brain  and  the  whole  body.  It  is  well  known  to  weary 
warriors  on  their  march.  Athletes  during  their  performances  are 
greatly  strengthened  by  music.  Yes,  even  horsemen  are  alert  to  the 
effect  music  produces  on  the  animal  beneath  them.  Bearing  in  mind 
the  teaching  of  our  Athenian  philosophers  of  the  curative  powers  of 


Sailing  to  Sicily  253 

music,  a  number  of  us,  including  jiyself,  have  put  the  same  to  a  prac 
tical  test  on  this  ship.  While  our  ship  was  recently  sailing  over  what 
our  maidens  called  'an  unhealthy  region'  of  the  seas,  where  our  ship 
was  being  tossed  high  and  low  by  the  rising  and  falling  of  the  power 
ful  billows,  several  of  us  men  gathered  in  one  of  our  small  halls  below 
decks  determined  upon  preventing  seasickness  through  the  mysterious 
power  of  music.  We  found  that  our  songs  and  the  skillful  playing  of 
melodious  instruments  brooked  us  over  what  our  maidens  called  'the 
unhealthy  climate.'  Comparing  ourselves  to  others  who  did  not  avail 
themselves  of  such  preventive  and  curative  means,  we  found  that  the 
mysterious  power  of  music  was  even  greater  than  Euphonites  declared. 
Now  that  we  have  all  quite  overcome  the  effects  of  the  boisterous  sea,  I 
propose  that  we  all,  accompanied  by  all  of  the  instruments,  sing  our 
well-known  song,  beginning: 

"Neptune,  O,  Thy  realm  we  love, 

Whether  calm  or  storm  it  be, 
Or  the  lightning's  flash  above, 
Ever  charming,  grand — Thy  sea." 

The  musical  instruments  and  the  grand  chorus  certainly  produced 
an  exhilarating,  cheerful  effect  on  all  men  and  maiden  voyagers.  The 
sweet  music  lent  renewed  life,  vigor  and  cheerfulness  to  all  on  ship 
board. 

Keltoites  continued:  "While  the  late  fierce  storm  was  at  its  height 
a  number  of  the  sailors  on  the  ship,  while  pulling  on  long  ropes,  sang 
a  storm  song  beautifully.  I  am  also  told  that  not  the  words,  but  the 
melody  is  well  known  to  us  all.  Captain  Arteus  has  consented  to  allow 
those  sailors  to  come  and  sing  the  storm  song  for  us 

"Fellow  Adventurers,  during  the  howling  storm,  while  we  were  all 
below  in  our  quarters,  sheltered  from  the  fierce,  relentless,  raging  ele 
ments,  the  brave  sailors  before  us  sang,  accompanied  by  the  wind's 
whistling  through  the  ship's  rigging  and  the  surging  sea,  a  storm  song 
most  beautifully,  I  am  told."  Keltoites  continued:  "Experienced, 
brave,  undaunted  seamen!  Followers  of  a  mind-broadening,  world-en 
lightening,  noble  calling!  It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  all  men  and 
maiden  voyagers  will  listen  to  your  singing  of  your  storm  song." 

Six  seamen  stood  in  line  with  a  bearing  and  look  that  seemed  to  say : 
"Well,  we'll  sing  it  as  best  we  can."  They  sang.  At  first  their  voices 
seemed  plain  and  coarse,  but  the  strength  and  heartiness  with  which 
they  sang  mingled  with  deep,  melodious  voices,  made  it  very  agreeable 
to  listen  to  and  loud  applause  greeted  their  manly  performance.  Kel 
toites  proposed,  as  all  the  voyagers  were  familiar  with  the  melody,  that 
all  should  join  in  with  the  sailors  and  again  sing  the  storm  song ; 
which  was  agreed  to  by  all.  The  great  wave  of  song  seemed  to  rise 


254  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  swell  with  the  undulations  of  the  sea.  One  of  the  seamen  said  that 
he  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  noble  voyagers  would  like  to  hear  their 
best  singer  sing  the  song  alone  for  them.  The  voyagers  said  they 
would  be  pleased  to  hear  him  sing  it,  which  he  did  in  a  very  deliberate 
and  agreeable  strong  seaman's  voice.  The  words  of  the  storm  song  are 
as  follows: 

SAILOR'S  STORM  SONG 

When  Boreas  storms  with  howling  glee, 
We  sailors,  far  out  on  the  sea, 
Pity,  O  pity,  the  folks  on  land — 
Eyes  and  faces  full  of  sand — 
All  things  loose  a-flying  round 
From  the  housetops  to  the  ground. 
Ho  !    Hi !   Ho !    The  salt  sea  spray 
Dashing,  splashing  on  our  way, 
O'er  the  surging  dark  blue  sea, 
Ever  joyous,  grand  and  free. 

At  the  close  of  the  strong,  cheerful,  deep,  melodious  song,  the  appre 
ciation  of  the  singing  was  loudly  indicated  by  sincere  applause.  One  of 
our  most  musical  men  voyagers,  who  had  listened  to  the  singing,,  with 
wrapt  attention,  said:  "He  nas  truly  listened  to  the  roaring  of  the 
wind  and  the  surging  of  the  sea  and  caught  up  its  melody." 

The  sailors  have  again  returned  to  their  post  of  duty.  It  has  been 
agreed  upon  by  voyagers  to  distribute  small  presents  to  each  of  the 
ship's  sailors,  and  also  officers.  The  sun  is  now  in  the  zenith ;  the  bil 
lows  are  not  running  high ;  the  wind  is  still  adverse,  but  the  ship  with 
all  its  sails  set  is  gallantly  beating  against  the  wind,  westward,  making 
headway  toward  Sicily.  An  officer  says  "All  are  in  good  spirits  again." 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  HERMIT  OF  THE  SEA 

Scriborites : 

A  sailor  from  the  watch  calls  out :  "Here !  here !  there  is  something 
floating  on  the  sea  far  ahead!  It  looks  like  a  floating  house." 

It  cannot  be  seen  from  the  ship's  deck. 

One  of  the  voyagers  said  to  Polybus,  the  ship's  seer  and  magician : 
"Here  is  a  chance  to  show  us  that  you  can  see  further  than  we  can." 

Polybus  said  with  emphasis:  "Yes,  I  will  show  you,  and  tell  you 
what  it  is." 

Polybus  went  below  to  his  quarters,  where  he  had  a  special  se 
cluded  room  for  himself,  and  returning,  went  to  the  bow  of  the  ship. 
He  stood  at  the  bow  and  looked  over  the  sea  with  a  cloth  thrown  over 
his  head.  Under  that  cloth  he  held  a  ]ong  tube  of  sugar  cane,  through 
which  he  looked  with  one  eye.  He  looked  in  many  directions,  and  then 
said :  "There  it  is  almost  right  ahead  of  us." 

The  watch  on  the  mast  shouted  down :  "Yes,  the  direction  is  cor 
rect."  Polybus  had  claimed  that  he  could  see  further  on  sea  in  day, 
night,  or  even  in  fog,  than  any  other  living  being.  Some  of  the  voy 
agers  had  noticed  that  he  looked  through  a  sugar  cane  tube  of  an  half 
an  arm's  length.  He  was  asked  whether  it  was  by  looking  through  the 
sugar  cane-like  tube  that  made  his  vision  so  much  stronger. 

Polybus  replied:  "Noble  voyagers!  I've  accompanied  this  voyage 
with  the  strict  understanding  that  whatever  predictions  I  may  make — 
whatever  discoveries  I  may  make,  or  magic  I  may  perform,  no  single 
person  or  number  of  persons  on  this  ship — even  including  the  Captain — 
shall  ask  How  it  can  be  known  or  done.'  It  would  be  useless  to  do  so ; 
for  the  gifts  and  powers  bestowed  upon  me  through  the  gods  are  be 
yond  the  common  understanding  of  man. 

"Noble  Adventurers !  It  is  well  known  to  me  that  you  have  also  been 
greatly  favored  by  the  gods  with  incomparable  nobleness  and  beauty  of 
person  and  with  understanding,  courage,  and  strength  beyond  common 
mortals.  Some  of  those  gifts  have  not  been  bestowed  upon  me,  espe 
cially  that  of  nobleness  and  beauty  of  person.  It  is  well  known  that 
from  time  immemorial,  necromancers,  soothsayers,  seers  and  magicians, 
to  the  duties  of  which  the  gods  have  ordained  me,  are  never  a  feast  for 
the  eyes  to  behold.  The  gods  have  willed  it  so.  But  believe  not  that 

255 


256  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

magicians   such   as   I   are   unmindful   of   the   nobility   and   beauty   in 
others." 

Polybus,  holding  up  the  tube,  continued :  "Noble  voyagers :  I  will, 
however,  myself  (but  it  will  be,  I  swear  by  the  god  of  Magic,  the  first 
and  last  and  only  time),  tell  you  that  the  sugar  cane  tube  it  is  that 
assists  me  in  being  able  to  see  farther  than  all  other  men.  Any  voy 
ager  who  wishes  to  look  through  the  tube  may  do  so." 

Several  of  the  men  and  maiden  voyagers  looked  through  the  plain, 
open  tube,  but  a1!  admitted  they  could  not  see  the  floating  object  ahead 
— could  not  see  any  farther  than  without  the  tube. 

Polybus  said:  "I  know  you  cannot  see  any  farther  with  it.  This 
ought  to  satisfy  you  of  the  truth  of  my  statement  that  I  can  see  much 
farther  than  any  of  you.  Delay  not,  but  let  Orthocles,  your  day  artist 
before  the  ship  can  come  so  close  that  you  can  see  the  object  yourselves, 
sketch  down  the  floating  object  as  I  describe  it  to  him." 

Orthocles  listened  to  Polybus'  description  of  the  floating  object  and 
sketched  it  on  papyrus. 

Polybus  began:  "First,  it  looks  like  a  small,  old  log  house  on 
floating  logs.  I  should  judge  the  logs  which  form  the  raft  on  which 
the  log-house  stands  are  about  four  men's  length  and  fully  two  men's 
length  in  width.  The  size  of  the  small,  log  house,  which  has  a  mast 
extending  from  it  in  the  middle  and  has  a  look-out  opening  on  three 
sides,  and  a  door  on  the  stern  side,  is  such  as  to  allow  walking  space 
on  its  sides,  with  a  larger  space  in  the  front  and  stern  parts  of  the 
raft.  As  I  see  it  now,  it  has  a  mast  extending  from  the  middle  of  the 
log  house." 

Orthocles  finished  drawing  this  sketch  as  described  by  Polybus,  who, 
on  looking  at  it,  said :  "Noble  voyagers,  the  ship  is  sailing  toward  the 
object  ahead  and  when  in  your  plain  view,  you  will  see  that  Orthocles' 
sketch  of  it  is  not  far  from  being  a  picture  of  the  floating  craft." 

Captain  Arteus  has  commanded  the  ship  to  sail  straight  toward  the 
supposed  object.  It  is  now  coming  dimly  into  view.  It  is  the  only 
object  to  be  seen  on  the  vast  surrounding  sea.  All  the  voyagers  are 
eagerly  waiting  the  ship's  close  approach  to  the  same.  The  small  log 
house  raft  has  what  seems  to  be  a  mast;  but  no  sail  is  up.  It  seems 
to  be  resting  and  drifting  with  the  wind  and  waves,  idly,  aimlessly 
about  the  sea. 

"There  is  a  man  on  it,"  exclaimed  the  voyagers. 

Yes,  sure  enough,  he  came  out  of  the  small  log  house  and  stood 
looking  at  our  ship  in  wonderment. 

Captain  Arteus  has  given  orders  to  lower  several  of  the  ship's  sails. 
Our  ship  is  getting  close  to  the  log  house  raft,  sailing  very  slowly. 
What  a  pretty  sight  it  is !  The  raft  log  house  looks  as  if  it  had  floated 
on  the  sea  for  many,  many  moons.  Barkless,  old  and  gray  are  logs  and 


The  Hermit  of  the  Sea  257 

house.  Very  old  it  must  be,  as  long  sea  grass  moss  clings  to  all  sides 
of  the  log  house. 

One  of  our  ship's  small  boats  has  been  lowered.  Two  of  our  men 
voyagers,  accompanied  by  Theognis,  interpreter  of  gesture  language, 
are  rowing  in  the  small  boat  to  the  log  raft.  The  man  on  the  raft  has 
climbed  on  the  small  house.  Stones,  spears,  bows  and  arrows  are  lying 
at  his  feet.  He  has,  with  both  hands,  raised  a  ponderous  stone  high 
above  his  head  in  a  threatening  attitude.  His  gesticulations  seem  to 
say  that  he  will  hurl  the  large  stone  into  the  small  boat  if  it  should 
attempt  to  lie  alongside  of  his  raft.  Our  ship's  small  boat  is  not 
rowing  straight  alongside  of  the  strange  raft;  it  is  slowly  rowing 
around  it.  The  man  on  the  house  raft  and  our  Theognis  are  talking 
together  in  gesture  language.  Theognis  has  jumped  on  the  craft.  The 
others  are  resting  their  oars  a  short  distance  from  the  raft.  Our  ship 
is  very  close  to  the  raft  and  we  can  see  the  man  near  by.  He  is  clad  in 
hairless  skins.  He  has  long,  heavy  hair  and  long,  full  beard,  slightly 
streaked  with  gray. 

Theognis  has  gone  into  the  log  house  with  him. 

Hilicarus,  second  officer,  who  is  standing  on  the  ship's  bulwark,  hold 
ing  himself  with  one  hand  to  the  railing,  said :  "That  house  raft  looks 
as  if  it  must  have  withstood  many  storms.  It  is  built  of  cedar  logs 
strongly,  probably  rigidly,  fastened  together  with  oaken  bolts.  The 
small  sail  seems  to  be  made  of  skins.  Even  with  that  sail  up,  it  must 
drift  rather  than  sail.  Out  on  the  open  seas,  the  fiercest  of  storms 
can  toss  it  high  and  deep,  dash  over  it,  so  it  may  be  almost  out  of  sight 
— yes,  may  play  with  it  in  ghoulish  glee;  but  the  storms  can  never 
make  it  spring  a  leak,  fill  it  with  water,  or  make  it  sink. 

"Noble  adventurers,  in  a  fierce,  raging  storm,  out  upon  the  open 
sea,  it  is  safer  to  be  on  that  log  house  raft  than  it  is  to  be  on  even  our 
ship  of  all  ships.  Many  ships  have  been  sent  to  the  bottom  of  the 
seas  by  the  raging  elements;  and  countless  more  will,  as  moons  follow 
moons,  find  a  resting  place  at  the  bottom  of  Neptune's  domain.  The 
man  on  that  log  house-raft  can,  out  on  the  open  sea,  defy  the  very 
elements,  singly  or  combined.  That  is  more  than  we  dare  do.  All  that 
can  happen  to  his  log  house-ship  is  that  it  will  get  desperate  duckings 
and  washings  by  the  high-running  billows;  but  after-  the  storm  has 
abated  the  mossy,  dark  green,  silken  hair,  with  which  the  log  house  is 
covered  on  all  sides  and  top,  will  shine  forth  with  renewed  lustre  and 
vigor. 

"Noble  voyagers,"  Hilicarus  continued,  "the  scene  before  us  teaches 
us  that  a  ship  should  be  so  built  that  the  elements,  singly  or  combined, 
cannot  force  it  to  sink  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea ;  and  should  be  so  con 
structed  that  under  all  conditions  and  occurrences  it  will  remain  afloat 
high  on  the  surface  of  the  water." 


258  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Thus  spoke  Hilicarus  and  we  all  think  that  he  only  spoke  in  order 
to  talk  from  the  bulwark,  which  seems  to  be  the  seamen's  rostrum. 

Theognis  has  come  out  of  the  log  house.  He  is  holding  up  a  duck, 
which  sets  all  to  laughing.  The  sea  hermit  is  standing  by  his  side. 
Theognis  and  the  other  voyagers  are  now  rowing  back  to  the  ship. 
They  are  on  shipboard  again. 

Theognis  ascends  the  rostrum  and  reports:  "Fellow  voyagers;  on 
our  first  attempt  to  row  alongside  of  his  hermit  home  he  made  us 
plainly  understand  by  his  gestures,  holding  up  one  finger,  that  if  more 
than  one  of  us  dared  attempt  to  come  on  his  drifting  home  of  the  sea 
he  would  battle  against  us  with  all  his  might  by  throwing  stones  in  our 
boat.  As  you  have  seen,  I  alone  went  on  his  sea-wafted  home.  The 
sea  hermit  is  a  strong  man.  I  need  not  describe  his  looks,  for  you  all 
have  seen  him  close  by.  What  land  he  came  from  I  could  not  find  out. 
The  language  he  speaks  is  strange  to  me.  But  I  have  interpreted  from 
his  explanations  and  gestures  the  story  of  his  whole  life  and  why  he 
is  now  a  hermit  of  the  sea,  living  a  lonely  life  on  the  shoreless  sea. 
His  life  has  been  blighted  by  a  great  disappointment  in  love.  She  whom 
he  loved  passionately  also  loved  him  deeply  in  return.  But,  O,  in  an 
evil  hour,  she  betrayed  him  and  became  the  loving  spouse  of  another. 
She  whom  he  loved  with  his  whole  heart  and  mind  so  deeply,  in  whom 
he  had  boundless  faith,  changed  her  love  for  another.  Since  that  time 
he  lost  complete  faith  in  all  womankind  and  hated  the  sight  of  woman. 
Then  it  was  that  he  swore  by  the  god  of  gods  that  he  would  not  live 
on  the  land,  but  would  live  as  a  hermit  for  the  rest  of  his  life — far  out 
upon  the  shoreless  waters,  where  the  sight  of  women  could  not  recall 
to  his  mind  his  shattered  love  story— not  recall  to  mind  woman's 
vacillating,  unfaithful  moods.  He  has  sworn  to  live  the  life  of  a  hermit 
on  the  seas,  so  that  the  sight  of  women  cannot  again  come  within  his 
range  of  vision.  That  was  years  and  years  ago,  as  you  can  see  by  the 
beautiful  dark  green,  silken-hair-covered,  floating  log  house.  There 
fore  we  see  him,  a  lonely  wave — and  storm-tossed  wanderer  in  Nep 
tune's  realm— a  sea  hermit.  On  asking,  I  understood  from  his  ges 
tures  that  he  did  not  know  or  care  where  he  was — his  only  efforts 
being  to  keep  out  of  the  sight  of  land  so  that  never  again  women  could 
fall  within  his  range  of  vision." 

Hyppiontos,  one  of  our  voyagers,  spoke  Tip  and  asked  Theognis: 
"How  could  you  understand  by  motions  that  he  wanted  women  to 
remain  out  of  his  sight  forever?" 

Theognis  replied:  "It  would  take  too  much  time  to  explain  how 
he  and  I  understood  each  other  through  gesture  language.  The  ex 
pression  of  the  eyes,  muscles  of  the  whole  face,  motions  of  the  legs, 
feet,  arms,  hands,  fingers,  nose — the  whole  body  often  speak  plainer 
to  one  than  mere  words  ever  can.  Even  such  who  can  converse  in  the 


The  Hermit  of  the  Sea  259 

same  word  language,  know  that  an  expression  on  the  face  of  disgust, 
contempt,  hatred  or  anger  is  often  stronger  and  more  intelligently  un 
derstood  than  words.  I  understood  him  plainly  to  say  that  he  lived 
out  on  the  shoreless  sea,  constantly  out  of  sight  of  land,  because  he 
wanted  to  be  where  women  were  not,  by  the  general  expression  of  face, 
eyes,  and  by  other  tokens.  Again,  I  saw  by  his  actions  that  he  hated 
the  sight  of  women ;  at  the  first  sight  of  you  maidens  on  the  ship  here 
his  whole  body  shook  as  if  frightened,  and  he  quickly  turned  his  back 
on  you  all  so  that  he  could  not  see  you.  And  I  noticed,  as  the  raft 
drifted  around,  he  always  changed  his  position  so  that  he  could  not 
see  the  ship,  which  he  first  looked  at  with  so  much  surprise,  wonder 
and  admiration;  but  after  seeing  you  maidens  he  never  again  cast  a 
glance  at  the  ship.  His  whole  efforts  are  to  keep  out  of  sight  of  land. 
The  one  sail  that  he  possesses  he  only  uses  when  necessary  to  keep 
his  raft  from  drifting  toward  the  shore.  He  lives  on  fish,  has  many 
bows,  arrows,  spears,  and  hooks,  and  also  shoots  fowl  of  the  sea.  This 
duck  which  I  have  here  he  only  shot  this  day.  He  had  several  more 
in  his  log  house.  Thus  lives  the  hermit  of  the  sea." 

Eubonia  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Let  us  not  hate 
that  wave-tossed  hermit,  but  rather  let  us  pity  him.  At  times  a  flash 
went  through  my  brain,  asking,  is  it  not  possible  that  he  may  be  too 
noble-minded  to  dwell  among  his  fellow-mortals?  Truly,  the  maiden  he 
loved  lost  the  opportunity  of  marrying  a  man  who  held  high  ideals  of 
true  love — too  high — too  noble,  perhaps,  to  mingle  without  disgust 
among  the  mortals  who  dwell  on  the  land." 

Polybus  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "I  will  only  for  once,  but 
never  again  call  your  attention  to  the  truth  of  my  power  of  vision, 
prediction  and  divinations.  The  sketch  drawn  by  Orthocles,  as  I  de 
scribed  it  to  him  before  any  of  your  voyagers  could  see  it,  illustrates 
the  hermit's  wave-tossed  home  just  as  you  saw  it  while  near  the  ship's 
side." 

Quentorio,  one  of  the  men  voyagers,  spoke  up:  "Polybus,  can  you 
give  us  a  faint  idea  as  to  how  your  divinations,  predictions  and  fore 
casts  are  obtained?" 

Polybus  continued:  "I  will,  but  with  the  understanding  that  never 
again  hereafter  will  I  explain  or  answer  questions  pertaining  to  occult 
matters.  To  explain  for  this  time  only,  note  you :  every  action,  near 
or  far,  causes  motion.  In  countless  cases  you  would  not  call  it  motion 
because  you  cannot  feel  or  see  the  motion.  But  that  is  no  proof  that 
there  is  no  motion — simply  because  you  cannot  see  it.  There  are 
countless  things  which  we  know  not  of — more  than  those  things  we 
mortals  know.  To  be  short,  let  me  say  every  thought — even  the  faint 
est — passing  to  and  fro  in  your  brain  produces  motion.  Such  motion, 
under  certain  conditions,  jumps,  as  we  may  say,  to  another  brain  or 


260  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

mind,  if,  be  it  known,  that  other  brain  or  mind  is  of  a  highly  sensitive,  re 
ceptive  kind,  such  as  the  gods  have  favored  a  magician  and  seer  with. 
Thus  the  thoughts  of  another,  if  I  willed  it  and  held  myself  in  readi 
ness  for  it,  would  pass  to  my  mind  through  the  air,  or  through  the  ground 
upon  which  I  may  stand.  Thus  is  thought  transferred  from  one  mind 
to  another,  regardless  of  distance,  through  motion,  which  produces  like 
motion  waves,  like  feelings,  sensations  and  like  thoughts — the  thoughts 
of  others.  All  events,  great  or  small,  cause  motion.  Such  motions 
travel  through  the  air,  seas  and  land.  Under  certain  conditions  men's 
minds  are  more  sensitive  and  receptive  than  at  other  times ;  and  when 
in  such  a  receptive  condition  the  wave  motions  of  thoughts,  of  events, 
regardless  of  distance,  travel  with  more  than  lightning  speed  and  make 
occurrences  known.  But  not  only  do  all  things  that  act  cause  motion, 
but  things  preparatory  to  action  also  cause  feeling-motion.  It  is 
through  the  getting-ready-to-act  feeling  that  we  diviners  are  enabled 
to  predict  and  forecast  future  events." 

One  of  our  voyagers,  Curositis,  said:  "Polybus,  would  you  let  us 
know  what  thoughts  are  finding  a  home  in  Annia's  mind  at  pres 
ent?" 

Annia  shouted,  "No,  No,  No!"  Polybus  replied:  "Be  it  known 
I  am  never  to  be  asked  to  do  anything.  The  Fates  alone  prompt 
me  to  act.  Care  be  with  you,  noble  Gurositis,  that  the  Fates  do  not 
prompt  me  to  make  the  thoughts  known  that  are  nestling  in  your 
mind." 

Polybus  continued :  "O,  if  I  were  to  announce  or  make  known  the 
wishes,  desires,  intentions,  schemes  and  thoughts  that  find  a  nestling 
place  in  the  brains  of  all  men  it  would  prove  all  men  to  be — well,  I 
will  not  utter  the  words,  for  I  would  have  to  use  the  most  damnable. 
But  in  reading  the  thoughts  that  find  a  home  in  the  minds  of  men,  I 
also  must  say  that  the  human  mind  houses  many  more  good  thoughts 
than  base  ones.  Yes,  often  the  thoughts  of  courageous  unselfishness 
for  fellow  man  are  such  as  to  bring  out  self-abnegation  and  noble 
love  of  fellow  kind  to  admiring  perfection.  At  times  the  thoughts  are 
of  so  noble  and  exalted  a  character  as  to  make  me  feel  that  such 
belong  to  a  diviner  race  than  do  we  mortals. 

"The  power  of  mind  reading,  given  to  me  by  the  gods,  has  divulged 
to  me  that  man's  innermost  feelings  are  a  combination  of  devil's  and 
angel's.  But  the  gods  have  constituted  man  so  that  it  is  to  his  own 
interest  and  welfare  to  expel  the  devilish  thoughts  as  much  as  it  is  in 
his  power,  thus  giving  him  a  larger  space  in  the  brain  for  the  juster, 
nobler,  and  more  exalted  thoughts  of  man.  Did  not  one  of  our  pro- 
foundest  philosophers  say  in  substance:  'Devilish  (evil)  thoughts  are 
closely  related  to  ignorance;  angelic  (good)  thoughts  to  wisdom.' 

"Noble  voyagers,  I  feel  that,  as  moons  come  and  go,  good  thoughts 


Eruption  of  Mt.  &tna  261 

will  steadily  hold  a  larger  space  in  man's  brain  than  evil  thoughts ;  for 
so  have  the  gods  created  man  that  by  his  own  sufferings  and  efforts 
shall  he  progress  from  the  animal  towards  the  noblest  type  of  man. 
And  when  that  day  comes  mankind  will  not  stand  in  need  of  sooth 
sayers,  diviners,  magicians  and  prophets,  but,  happily,  I  will  then  be 
no  more,  for  many  will  be  the  waxings  and  wanings  of  the  moon  before 
that  time  will  come  to  pass." 

No  land  in  sight;  our  ship  is  sailing  swiftly  with  the  strong,  north 
wind,  westward.  Phcebus  is  lowering  at  the  west  end  of  the  world. 
Anaxogerous,  the  night  scribe,  is  here. 

Anaxogerous :  Westward,  with  a  strong  breeze,  our  great  ship  is  sail 
ing,  Sicily  lies  in  the  west.  Hilicarus  is  on  deck.  Brightly  are  the  evening 
stars  reflected  on  the  waters.  The  watch  from  the  mast  is  calling  down : 
"Look  towards  the  west ;  it  looks  as  though  the  sun  were  rising  there." 
Hilicarus  looked  and  also  said:  "It  looks  as  though  the  sun  is  going 
to  rise  in  the  wrest."  Captain  Arteus  was  called  and  is  now  on  deck. 
Captain  Arteus'  movements  show  that  he  is  restless.  The  ship  is  sail 
ing  majestically  towards  the  west.  There  is  a  beauteous  glow  of  light 
on  the  western  clouds. 

Captain  Arteus,  who  has  just  come  down  from  the  mast,  says: 
"It's  Mt.  Aetna,  spouting  fire  and  flame,  which  is  reflected  in  the  clouds 
above." 

"Sicily !  Sicily !"  exclaim  the  sailors. 

The  ship  is  sailing  with  increased  speed  in  the  direction  of  the  glow 
ing  clouds.  Captain  Arteus  is  holding  a  conference  with  all  the  officers 
under  his  command.  A  strong  breeze  is  blowing  from  the  north.  Cap 
tain  Arteus  has  ordered  that  all  the  voyagers  be  told  to  come  on  deck 
to  behold  the  terrible  eruption  of  Mt.  Aetna.  The  grand  burning  moun 
tain's  strong  light  makes  the  stars  of  night  look  dim  and  pale.  All  the 
maiden  and  men  voyagers  are  now  on  deck.  The  tremendous,  fiery, 
glowing  spectacle  evokes  feelings  of  awe,  wonder  and  reverence.  "The 
world's  afire!"  is  repeated  among  the  voyagers.  "The  world  is  burn 
ing  !"  is  what  many  exclaim.  Our  ship  is  now  at  close  viewing  distance. 
Rivers  of  fire,  above  which  also  rises  smoke,  are  descending  from  many 
parts  of  the  mountain's  sides.  Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  the  lower 
ing  of  a  number  of  sails,  to  lessen  the  speed  of  the  ship.  The  powerful 
eruption  of  grand  columns  of  fire  shooting  high  in  the  air,  the  fearful 
rumbling  noises  of  explosions,  the  continuous  descending  of  vast  rocks 
and  stones,  over  all  of  which  floats  and  lingers  the  darkest  of  black 
clouds,  has  spread  a  feeling  of  fear,  dread  and  deep  reverence  for  the 
power  of  the  gods  over  all  on  shipboard.  The  grand  light  of  the  "world 
afire"  is  bringing  all  things  to  plain  glaring  view  on  our  ship,  sails  and 
all  opaque  objects  on  our  ship  are  outlined  by  dark  shadows  on  deck. 
In  the  glow  of  the  "world  afire,"  Orato  ascended  the  rostrum,  sur- 


262  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

rounded  by  all  of  the  adventurers,  and  said:  "Noble  voyagers!  I  now 
light  the  incense  in  the  tripod  before  me,  for  in  the  presence  of  this 
terrible  'world  afire,'  before  us,  it  is  meet  that  incense  arise  to  the 
Gods  who  on  high  Olympus  dwell.  O,  Ye  Gods!  Your  power  in  this 
stillness  of  night,  the  eruption  of  Mt.  Aetna,  its  terrible  power  and  glow 
and  clouds  of  smoke  and  terrible  explosive  rumblings  will  be  indelibly 
impressed  upon  our  memory's  tablets  until  the  fires  in  our  own  bodies 
are  burnt  out;  thus  to  the  end  of  our  earthly  days.  Fire!  Never  be 
fore  have  ye  Gods  vouchsafed  unto  us  the  privilege  of  seeing  it  in  its 
most  august,  terrible  form  as  it  now  rages  before  us.  Beholding  this 
'world  afire'  repays  us  for  our  ship's  voyage  hither.  O,  ye  Gods !  Cold 
and  Heat — powerful  factors  have  ye  placed  upon  the  earth.  Ice  and  fire 
are  their  intensest  representations.  The  Frost  King,  by  his  breath, 
turneth  water  into  ice.  Thus  one  can  cut  water  into  a  square  block 
and  hold  it  in  the  open  hand.  Hephaestus,  God  of  Fire,  has  the  power 
of  doing  the  very  reverse — of  melting  the  ice  and  metals  for  the  good 
of  man — iron,  bronze  and  the  hardest  of  metals.  O,  Hephaestus,  God 
of  Fire!  with  deep  reverence,  we  humbly  thank  Thee  for  the  privilege 
of  beholding  Thy  glorious,  glaring  power.  O,  Hephaestus!  Thou  art 
in  kinship  with  Helios,  the  stars  and  fiery  zigzag  lightning.  Flame, 
heat,  warmth  dwell  in  Thy  domain.  O,  Hephaestus!  In  Thy  various 
degrees,  Thou  art  the  essence  of  all  ife.  Cold  is  death,  and  warmth  is 
life.  Thy  fire,  O  Hephaestus,  tempered  by  water,  also  dwelleth  in 
mortal  man.  Upon  the  extinction  of  Thy  flame  of  life  within  us,  O 
Hephaestus,  man  passes  to  the  shades  below.  Often  do  we  pray  to 
Zeus  and  the  Gods  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell  to  keep  the  flame  of 
life  within  us  from  extinguishing  until  the  farthest  moon  allotted  to 
man  has  passed  over  the  blue  vault  above.  Thou  hast  given  us  the 
spark  of  life.  O,  we  pray,  may  our  lives  be  such  as  to  keep  the  flame 
burning  to  a  good  old  age,  brightly,  strongly  and  purely,  as  a  mark  of 
appreciation  of  the  gift  bestowed  upon  us.  O  Plaphaestus !  Noble  God 
of  Fire !  With  kind  forethought  hast  Thou  hidden  Thy  flames  in  wood 
and  in  flint  all  over  the  world,  to  the  great  good  and  blessing  of  mortal 
man. 

"One  of  our  noted  Athenian  philosophers  says :  'Fire  is  a  good  ser 
vant,  but  a  poor  master.' 

"O  Hephaestus,  Thou  art  man's  warmest  friend.  In  ages  back  as  well 
as  in  our  day,  it  has  been  prophesied  that  through  the  wickedness  of 
man,  the  world  will  go  down  in  fire.  On  this  night,  we  behold  from  our 
ship,  O  Hephaestus,  with  awe,  dread,  fear  and  exalted  reverence,  the 
awful,  terrible,  destructive  power  of  the  element  over  which  Thou 
boldest  sway.  We  all  humbly  pray  and  beseech  Thee,  O  Hephaestus, 
noble  God  of  Fire,  preserve  the  world  from  such  fearful  destruction. 
Hereafter  the  tiniest  flame  will  remind  us  of  Thy  power,  greatness, 


Eruption  of  Mt.  ^Etna  263 

and  kindness  to  mankind.  O  Hephaestus,  may  the  incense  arising  from 
our  tripod  be  welcome  and  agreeable  to  Thee.  We,  the  Four  Hundred 
of  Athens,  utter  in  unison,  with  great  reverence:  'We  thank  Thee, 
O  Hephaestus,  God  of  Fire,'  and  venture  to  honor  ourselves  by  claiming 
Thee  as  our  warmest  friend." 

The  day  scribe  has  now  come  on  deck  to  relieve  me.  But  this  night 
also  had  matters  of  interest  to  record. 

Scriborites,  day  scribe: 

Aurora  is  slowly  illuminating  the  eastern  horizon.  From  this  close 
distance,  the  eruption  of  Mt.  Aetna  is  a  terrifying  sight.  Phcebus  is  now 
above  the  horizon,  and  we  now  see  a  city  built  in  the  small  bay  some 
what  to  the  north  of  Aetna.  Our  ship  has  landed  along  a  convenient 
wharf.  Only  a  few  fisher  boats  are  to  be  seen  in  the  bay.  The  com 
mittee  has  returned  on  the  ship.  One  of  the  committee  makes  it 
known  that  the  city  is  almost  deserted  on  account  of  the  present 
eruption  of  Mt.  Aetna.  This  land  is  a  great  island,  as  Captain 
Arteus  has  said,  and  is  called  Sicily.  All  the  land  around  is  covered 
with  deep,  hot  ashes,  and  seems  to  be  in  danger  of  being-  consumed  by 
the  terrible  fire.  A  large  number  of  voyagers  have  gone  on  shore. 
As  soon  as  stepping  on  terra  firma,  they  sang  to  a  well-known  Grecian 
tune: 

"Neptune,  O  we  love  Thy  seas, 
And  Aeolus'  favoring  breeze; 
But  our  feet,  they  can  not  tread 
On  each  wavelet's  whitecapped  head. 

Therefore,  after  sailing  long, 

O'er  Thy  surging  seas  so  strong, 

We  delight  to  stand  again 

On  the  shores  that  bound  Thy  main." 

The  few  people  who  still  remained  near  Aetna  are  gathered  in  groups 
viewing  our  grand  ship.  A  young  maiden  beckons  to  one  of  the  men  in 
the  small  boats  to  take  her  to  the  great  ship. 

She  was  brought  on  the  ship,  where  she  insisted,  by  her  motions, 
that  she  wanted  to  see  the  Captain.  The  voyagers  feared  it  might  be 
another  black-flag  incident. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "I  will  see  and  hear  no  maiden  unless  sur 
rounded  by  all  on  ship  board,  at  present.  I  want  to  be  surrounded  by 
you  all  so  as  to  be  protected  from  the  deep  schemes  and  wiles  of  plot 
ting  woman." 

As  the  maiden  appeared  before  Captain  Arteus,  he  said:  "Speak, 
young  maiden,  and  tell  us  all  you  know  about  yourself,  your  people  and 
your  land  of  fire." 

Theognis,  gesture  interpreter,  said:  "The  maiden  is  very  much  in  a 
hurry  to  go  ashore  again,  as  she  says  that  if  her  men  people  know  that 


264  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

she  was  on  this  great  ship,  they  would  kill  her."  Theognis  continued : 
"The  maiden  says,  the  Gods  moved  her  to  come  on  this  great  ship  in 
haste  and  inform  its  commander  of  the  great  danger  his  ship  and  peo 
ple  are  in  of  being  totally  annihilated.  She  says,  as  a  fisher  maiden, 
she  knows  the  wiles  and  changing  moods  of  Aeolus,  God  of  the  winds, 
Soon,  oh  soon,  she  says,  the  wind  will  blow  from  the  west  and  the 
great  fire,  hot  ashes  and  burning  stones  will  destroy  all  burnable 
things  that  may  float  even  far  out  on  the  sea.  The  maiden  says  she 
must  hasten  to  shore  again,  and  says  if  the  great  ship  does  not  sail  in 
great  haste  north  or  south  from  here,  it  will  be  overwhelmed  by  Aetna's 
far  reaching  fires  and  be  seen  by  human  eyes  no  more." 

The  maiden  was  hastily  taken  to  shore,  after  receiving  a  gift  from 
the  voyagers. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "The  maiden  has  truly  called  our  attention 
to  the  danger  we  are  in  of  being  annihilated  by  fire." 

The  Captain  gave  orders  that  all  on  shore  should  immediately  come 
on  shipboard  again. 

All  being  on  board  again,  Captain  Arteus  said:  "The  fire,  ashes 
and  smoke,  arising  straight  up  in  the  air,  indicate  that  Aeolus  is 
leisurely  meditating,  and  soon  we  can  expect  to  hear  the  wind  blow 
from  the  west,  as  informed  by  the  fisher  maiden." 

Mt.  Aetna  looks  as  if  topped  by  huge  black,  fiery  columns  reaching 
to  the  blue  vault  above. 

Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  all  the  sails  to  be  hoisted  and  now  our 
ship  is  slowly  sailing  toward  the  south.  The  look-out  on  the  mast  calls 
down :  "The  wind  on  the  mountain  is  now  from  the  west."  The  sails 
are  bending  with  the  west  wind  and  we  are  sailing  swiftly  onward.  The 
great  column  of  fire  and  smoke  has  fallen  in  our  direction,  the  heat  of 
which  is  becoming  perceptible  on  our  ship.  The  wind  has  increased 
and  heavy  cinders  and  hot  stones  have  struck  our  ship.  The  speed  of 
our  ship  has  just  enabled  us  to  escape  south  of  the  path  of  the  large 
column,  of  fire,  smoke  and  cinders.  The  water  is  sizzling  from  the  falling 
of  hot  stones  and  ashes.  We  have  now  left  the  fire  land  in  the  distance 
and  we  are  speeding  on  toward  the  south  out  of  harm's  reach. 

Isylata  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  Voyagers, 
the  maidens  have  urged  me  to  say  a  few  words.  From  time  imme 
morial,  women  have  been  looked  upon  with  great  suspicion  by  men. 
The  young-  fisher  maiden  was  also  regarded  with  deep  suspicion. 
Many  feared  to  let  her  come  on  the  ship  to  see  the  Captain,  scenting 
another  black-flag  danger.  But  we  now,  before  our  own  eyes,  behold 
our  deliverance  from  certain  destruction  by  Aetna's  fiery  ashes,  through 
the  not  too  timely  information  imparted  to  Captain  Arteus  by  a  woman 
— the  fisher  maiden.  That  Minerva  selected  her  as  her  messenger,  is  an 
honor  to  all  womankind." 


Eruption  of  Mt.  JEtna  265 

"As  to  fire,"  Isylta  continued,  "Our  philosophers  taught  us  that 
Prometheus  stole  fire  from  the  sun  and  brought  it  down  to  man." 

Ratorios,  standing  among  the  voyagers,  said  in  a  loud  voice  : 

"Isylata,  thou  hast  spoken  well.  The  gods  have  plainly 
planned  this  to  be  a  woman's  day  for  the  safety  of  ship,  man  and 
woman  alike."  (Applause.) 

The  ship  is  sailing  in  a  south-westerly  direction.  The  voyagers  are 
now  whiling  away  their  time  by  engaging  in  various  sports  on  deck. 
The  landing  committee  says  that  Syracuse  will  be  the  next  port  of  land 
ing.  They  were  told  that  there  is  a  sheltered  bay  and  an  island  called 
Ortygia,  near  which  a  ship  can  lie  secure  in  any  storm.  The  sun  has 
set  in  the  west. 

Anaxogerous:  The  look-out  on  the  mast  calls  down:  "A  town  on 
the  west  shore."  Lights  are  gleaming  forth  from  some  of  the 
houses  on  shore  and  island.  Slingers  are  throwing  stones  against  our 
ship.  'Tis  past  midnight  and  all  otherwise  seems  quiet  on  shore.  The 
ship  is  anchored  near  a  wharf.  Aurora  is  illuminating  the  eastern  sky. 
Scriborites  is  on  deck. 

Scriborites :  A  finer  day  nor  a  finer  bay  our  voyagers  could  not  wish 
for.  Many  small  boats  with  lateen  sails  are  moving  swiftly  to  and  fro, 
close  to  our  ship,  like  water  bugs.  The  wharf  and  shore  near  by  are 
crowded  with  people  from  the  town.  Olive  branches  are  held  up  to  our 
view  by  a  number  of  seemingly  prominent  people  of  the  town.  Also  a 
small  boat  has  come  alongside  of  our  ship  and  extended  olive  branches 
to  our  voyagers.  Hypnothoon  says:  "This,  if  sincere,  is  a  true  sign 
that  we  can  come  and  sojourn  on  the  shore  in  peace." 


CHAPTEE  XI 

SYRACUSE 

From  their  shouts,  it  is  plain  that  they  know  some  Greek  words. 
At  the  landings  everything  is  arranged  ready  for  battle,  but  not  to  the 
enemy's  view.  The  Landing  Committee,  Greetus,  Terrafirma,  Strabo, 
Fatallus,  accompanied  by  Theognis,  have  proceeded  to  the  shore,  wel 
comed  by  prominent  men  of  the  town.  At  all  landings,  the  committee 
of  landing  must  return  to  the  ship  within  a  certain  time.  If  they  do 
not  so  return,  it  means  that  they  have  been  held  back  by  force,  or  possi 
bly  killed.  If  not  returned  within  the  agreed  time,  Marstenes  will  pro 
ceed  to  the  town  with  all  the  warriors  that  can  be  spared  and  resort  to 
battle,  if  necessary.  Many  of  the  men  and  maiden  voyagers  are  in  the 
rigging,  taking  a  view  of  the  town  and  surrounding  land.  The  crowds 
on  the  shore  and  in  the  boats  are  increasing.  The  ship's  rainbow  flags 
are  waving  from  each  masthead.  There  are  buildings  and  a  castle  on 
the  island  nearby. 

Our  Committee  of  Landing  is  returning  to  the  wharf,  accompanied 
by  a  large  number  of  Syracuse  warriors  and  the  King  of  the  city.  Ar 
riving  at  the  wharf,  led  by  the  King,  the  warriors  are  cheering  for 
Athens.  The  Committee  of  Landing  has  returned  on  shipboard. 

Greetus,  from  the  rostrum,  says:  "Fellow  Voyagers,  the  name  of 
the  city,  as  we  expected,  is  Syracuse,  and  this  island  before  us  is  Orty- 
gia.  King  Heritoges  received  us  with  open  arms.  He  is  a  strong,  fear 
less  ruler.  His  warriors  and  people  were  delighted  with  our  arrival. 
Even  without  the  aid  of  Theognis,  we  can  understand  almost  all  they 
say.  You  may  be  surprised  to  hear  that  they  speak  a  language  that 
seems  to  be  closely  related  to  our  Athenian  Greek.  It  is  not  exactly  the 
same,  but  it  would  not  take  a  long  time  for  any  of  us  to  learn  it.  We 
informed  them  that  our  Committee  of  Commerce  would  like  to  barter 
with  their  tradespeople,  to  the  glory  of  Syracuse  and  Athens.  The 
King  was  greatly  pleased  to  have  Athenian  ships  and  traders  come  to 
Syracuse.  We  gave  as  a  gift  to  the  King,  one  of  our  burnished  bronze 
medals  on  which  our  ship  and  the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens  is  engraved. 
He  accepted  it  with  great  pleasure.  In  return,  he  presented  to  us  this 
bronze,  eight-cornered  medal  on  which  his  head  and  the  castle  of 
Ortygia  is  engraved. 

"Fellow  Voyagers,  we  report  that  we  believe  the  King,  warriors  and 
all  his  people  feel  greatly  pleased  and  honored  with  our  presence." 

266 


Syracuse  267 

Terrafirma  spoke  from  the  rostrum,  and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers, 
we  are  now  ready,  under  Marstenes'  and  Rosina's  command,  to  proceed 
to  the  city." 

Under  the  commands  of  Marstenes  and  Rosania,  the  voyagers 
inarched  to  the  King's  castle.  The  voyagers  halted,  in  military  order, 
on  the  grounds  before  the  castle,  followed  by  large  crowds  of  people. 
King  Heritoges  stood  upon  the  balcony  of  the  castle,  surrounded  by 
some  of  his  chieftains.  A  far  larger  number  of  the  warriors  than  out 
number  stood  in  military  order  with  slings,  shields  and  implements  of 
war  within  hearing  distance  of  the  King.  The  implements  of  war 
borne  by  our  voyagers,  appeared  to  great  advantage  over  those  of  the 
Syracuseans;  and,  as  warriors,  it  is  easily  seen  that  our  voyagers  are 
all  superior  in  everyway.  This  the  eyes  of  the  Syracuseans  can  not 
fail  to  tell  them. 

Hypnothoon,  standing  upon  a  slight  elevation,  close  under  the  balcony 
upon  which  King  Heritoges  and  his  chieftains  stood,  said:  "Noble 
King  Heritoges  of  Syracuse  and  Ortygia !  We,  the  voyagers  of  the  ship 
which  is  privileged  by  the  consent  of  your  highness  to  lie  securely  in 
your  sheltered  bay,  have  come  to  your  beautiful  shores  from  far-off 
Athens  in  Hellas.  Noble  King  and  Queen  of  Syracuse  and  Ortygia !  We 
greet  you  with  our  best  wishes  for  the  welfare  and  greatness  of  the 
land  over  which  you  rule.  Although  we  voyage  over  vast  seas,  doubly 
equipped  with  the  best  implements  of  war,  our  mission  is  one  of  peace 
and  friendship  with  all  shores.  Commerce  is  the  alpha  and  omega  of 
our  adventure.  Our  mission  is  one,  not  of  war,  but  of  peace. 

"Noble  King  and  Queen  of  Syracuse  and  Ortygia !  From  the  hearty 
and  friendly  reception  accorded  to  our  Committee  of  Landing,  the 
words  'war'  and  'combat'  are  out  of  place,  and  instead  may  we  hear 
only,  'Peace,  Commerce,  Friendship,'  (great  applause  on  all  sides)  to 
the  glory  of  Syracuse,  Ortygia  and  our  beloved  Athens.  (Applause.) 

"Noble  King !  I  must  not  delay  with  many  words,  for  our  ship  must 
yet  sail  far  to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  before  our  ship's  prow  can  be 
directed  homeward.  It  is  our  wish  that  your  warriors  and  maidens 
join  us  in  games  and  sports  and  dancing  before  we  depart  for  other 
distant  unknown  shores.  In  the  meantime,  our  Committee  of  Com 
merce  will  be  pleased  to  meet  your  tradespeople,  traffickers  and  barter- 
ers,  whom  they  will  invite  on  shipboard  to  display  to  them  the  various 
kinds  of  Athenian  Hellenic  merchandise  for  sale  and  barter;  also  will 
they  studiously  observe  and  examine  the  various  kinds  of  merchandise 
of  your  tradespeople;  such  as  you  have  and  we  have  not.  Such  will  be 
bartered  for  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  of  profit  to  both  Syracuse 
and  Athens.  'Thus,'  say  our  Athenian  philosophers,  'in  peace  and 
friendship  gathereth  a  city  and  nation  more  surely  and  securely  wealth 
and  opulence  than  by  bloody  plundering  and  sacking  of  cities  in  war. 


268  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

For,'  they  say,  'perceive  ye  not  the  Phoenician  merchant  cities  of  Tyre 
and  Sidon — cities  whose  merchants  are  princes  and  whose  traffickers  are 
the  honorable  of  the  earth?'  Our  large  ship  is  a  merchant  sample  ship 
carrying  only  several  of  each  kind  of  goods  and  wares  as  are  made  and 
grown  in  our  Athens  and  vicinity.  Noble  Heritoges!  Our  Athenian 
nobles  have  sent  out  this  ship,  firstly,  for  the  purpose  of  fostering 
commerce  with  distant  lands,  and,  secondly,  to  gather  the  wisdom  of 
the  world  from  distant  shores;  for  say  our  philosophers:  'There  exists 
no  land  or  peoples  from  which  we  can  not  gain  and  add  to  our  knowl 
edge  of  things.'  No  longer  will  I  delay,  but  only  wish  to  say,  with 
great  pleasure  will  we  be  pleased  to  mingle  in  games,  sports  and 
dances." 

King  Heritoges  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  balcony  and  replied: 
"Noble  voyagers  from  far  off  distant  Athens!  The  medal  presented  to 
me  by  your  Committee  of  Landing,  on  which  your  wonderful  ship  is 
brought  to  view,  also  has  inscribed  thereon  the  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens;  therefore,  can  I  address  you  as  Noble,  Beautiful  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens !  I  welcome  you  to  my  shores.  My  eyes  and  ears  are 
entranced;  mine  eyes  behold  the  beautiful,  friendly  scene  before  me 
perfectly;  but  my  ears  do  not  understand  fully  what  has  been  spoken 
in  the  Athenian  tongue.  But  truly  enough  have  I  fully  understood  by 
the  resemblance  of  your  Athenian  to  our  Syracusean  languages;  it  proves 
what  our  traditions  say,  namely:  that  our  Syracusean  ancestors,  end 
less  moons  ago  were  wafted  by  storms  from  their  Grecian  homes  to 
these  distant  shores.  There  are  things  one  may  even  see  and  know 
but  cannot  explain.  My  people  have  come  to  me  and  said  there  is  a 
large,  wondrous,  friendly  ship  in  the  bay.  How  did  they  know  it  was 
friendly?  They  could  not  explain  why  they  knew  it  was  a  friendly 
ship.  So  it  is  with  me.  I  see  and  know  and  feel  you  come  with  minds 
filled  with  peace;  not  war.  Although  my  people  outnumber  yours,  there 
also  in  your  presence,  dwells  only  peace  and  friendship  in  our  minds. 
We  can  strike  flints  together  and  the  sparks  will  signify  our  true, 
warm  friendship.  The  names  Athens  (Hellas),  has  a  pleasing  sound. 
From  generation  to  generation  have  our  people  listened  with  admiration 
to  stories  of  its  wise  and  brave  men  and  women.  Noble  Athenian  Four 
Hundred!  We  know  that  a  ship  so  grand,  whose  voyagers  include  so 
large  a  share  of  maidens  blessed  by  the  gods,  would  not  land  on  distant 
shores  for  the  purpose  of  conquest  and  battle.  Your  valiant  Hypno- 
thoon  has  said  you  landed  here  for  the  purpose  of  friendly  commerce 
and  to  mingle  in  joyous  amusements  with  our  people.  May  the  games 
and  dances  now  begin. 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  Acrobatus  will  now  lead  the  way 
to  our  athletic  field.  A  feast  will  we  hold  this  day  in  your  honor." 

Under    command    of    Marstenes    and    Rosania,    our    voyagers,   ac- 


Syracuse  269 

companied  by  a  far  greater  number  of  Syracuseans,  in  military  order, 
arrived  at  the  athletic  field. 

The  large  open  plain  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  low  rocky  hills, 
on  the  sides  of  which  were  hewn  many  rows  of  seats  for  the  spec 
tators.  Our  voyagers  first  sang  our  Athenian  opening  song  at  contests, 
beginning : 

When  Greek  meets  Greek  on  festal  day, 
The  watchword  is  Fair  Play,  Fair  Play. 

As  sung  by  those  who  joined  in  it,  one  can  not  hear  it  too  often. 
Greatly  it  seemed  to  charm  all  Syracuseans;  for  King  Heritoges  arose 
and  said  after  the  subsidence  of  the  applause  had  made  hearing  possi 
ble: 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred !  Greatly  would  it  please  even  unto 
the  least  of  us  if  you  would  again  sing  and  play  that  noble  song." 
(Great  applause.) 

Once  more  the  song  resounded,  accompanied  by  the  ship's  musicians, 
composed  of  members  of  the  ship's  Four  Hundred.  At  its  termination 
was  prolonged  applause. 

Kentosmetos,  one  of  the  Committee  of  Prizes,  standing  on  the 
judge's  stand  a  short  distance  from  the  King,  said :  "Noble  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens!  This  one  song  alone  informs  us  Syracuseans  that  in 
the  realm  of  song  and  music,  we  need  not  attempt  to  vie  with  you; 
therefore,  I  have  been  appointed  to  hand  to  you  this  bronze  gilt  lyre  as 
a  prize  due  to  you  as  victors  in  the  contest  of  song  and  musical  instru 
ments.  It  is  ever  Syracuse's  wish  and  hope  that  often  during  your 
friendly  sojourn  among  us,  we  will  be  honored  and  charmed  by  the  skill 
of  your  musicians  and  the  sweet,  powerful,  god-gifted  voices.  (Great 
applause  by  Syracuseans.)  Surely  the  sirens  on  the  rocky  shores  would 
be  silent  on  hearing  your  charming  music." 

Sopranes,  one  of  the  maiden  voyagers,  escorted  to  the  judge's 
stand,  replied  as  follows  in  a  rounded,  clear  voice:  "Noble  King  and 
Queen,  brave  Syracuseans,  men  and  maidens,  friends!  I  have  been 
asked  to  thank  you  in  the  name  of  our  Four  Hundred  for  the  beautiful 
prize  presented  to  us.  We  cannot  quite  call  it  a  prize,  for  as  yet,  there 
has  not  been  a  contest.  But  we  accept  it  as  a  friendly  gift,  with  great 
pleasure  and  appreciation.  Saying  that  we  maidens  outvie  Sirens  in 
song,  is  truly  great  praise,  for  they  tell  us  that  Sirens  lure  the  bravest 
and  strongest  of  sailors  to  destruction  by  their  songs."  The  King 
bowed. 

Kentosmetos  arose  and  said :  "Dancing  will  take  place  first,  after 
which  games  and  contests  will  follow.  One  of  our  profound  Syra 
cuseans  has  informed  us  that  Homer,  the  greatest  of  all  your  Hellenic 
poets  and  bards,  should  have  said :  'Dancing  is  the  sweetest  and  most 


270  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

perfect  of  human  enjoyments.'  Therefore,  noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  have  we  in  honor  of  him,  whom  you  and  all  Hellas  hold  in 
reverential  remembrance,  placed  dancing  at  the  beginning  of  our  first 
day's  festival."  (Applause.) 

Kentosmetos  called  out:  "Syracuseans,  first  may  we  witness  the 
spear  and  shield  dance."  A  large  number  of  Syracusean  warriors  ran, 
walked  and  danced  in  various  attitudes,  swinging  their  shields  and 
spears  in  graceful  movements  to  the  beating  of  several  drums  and 
cymbals.  Next  followed  the  maiden's  Diana  dance.  Many  Syracusean 
maidens,  with  bows  and  arrows  in  their  hands,  marched  in  rows  of 
four  through  intricate  movements  all  ending  with  dancing  and  reel 
ing  in  various  movements,  often  striking  their  bows  with  their  arrows 
in  rhythmic  time  to  the  music  of  harp,  viol,  lute,  flute,  cymbal  and  drum, 
the  music  of  which  was  pleasant  to  the  ear,  and  very  lively.  Applause 
greeted  its  close. 

Gracio,  of  our  Committee  of  Games,  arose  and  said:  "Noble  Syra 
cuseans,  new  to  us  are  many  of  your  graceful,  intricate  movements  in 
the  dance.  We  will,  no  doubt,  try  to  remember  them  and  on  again 
landing  in  your  beautiful  bay,  we  may  also  display  our  skill  in  the 
dancing  of  same.  Our  maidens  and  men  will  now  perform  the  Nep 
tune  dance  in  honor  of  him  on  whose  endless  realm  the  Fates  have 
decreed  we  must  yet  voyage  for  several  moons  to  come.  The  dance 
is  also  known  as  the  Wave  dance,  in  honor  of  Neptune.  The  incense 
in  the  tripod  which  Orato,  our  priest,  has  just  lit,  will  ascend  as  a 
sacrifice  to  Neptune,  and  the  dance  will  continue  until  it  is  burnt  out 
and  its  glow  expended." 

King  Heritoges,  his  nobles  and  ladies,  all  seemed  to  be  greatly  In 
terested  in  this  dance  which  was  plainly  indicated  by  their  close  atten 
tion  and  attitude.  The  full  number  of  musicians,  composed  of  our  noble 
voyagers,  first  played  the  wave-like  Neptune  dance  through  once;  and, 
on  the  second  playing,  over  one  hundred  of  our  maidens,  holding  aloft 
a  tiny  bronze  trident,  moved  gracefully  forward  two  steps  and  back 
one  step  until  arriving  at  a  certain  point.  Then  the  same  number  of 
our  men  proceeded  in  the  same  wave-like  manner  until  each  stood  along 
side  of  one  of  the  maidens  as  a  partner.  The  couples  then  marched 
back  to  the  starting  place.  Each  maiden  presented  the  gilt  trident  to 
her  partner,  who  held  it  high  in  the  air  with  the  other  hand  clasped 
around  the  maiden's  waist;  and  thus  all  danced  around  in  a  large 
circle  until  our  priest  called  out  in  a  strong  voice,  "Neptune!"  then  all 
dancers  stood  still  in  rows  by  couples,  and  still  bending  in  wave-like 
motion  and  with  wave-like,  flowing  music,  sang : 

"We  sing  Thy  praise  in  the  dance, 

O  Neptune,  God  of  the  Sea! 
We  sing  Thy  praise  in  the  dance, 
In  wave-like  melody. 


Syracuse  271 

Thy  waves  and  surges  strong, 

O  Neptune,  God  of  the  Sea! 
We  praise  in  wave-like  song, 

On  land  and  on  the  sea. 

O'er  Thy  blue  endless  realm, 

O  Neptune,  God  of  the  Sea! 
May  safe  our  man  at  the  helm 

Steer  us  from  dangers  free. 

We  praise  Thee  in  the  dance, 

O  Neptune,  God  of  the  Sea! 
We  praise  Thee  in  the  dance, 

What'er  our  fate  may  be." 

At  the  close  of  the  last  verse,  they  all  danced  in  couples  again,  hold 
ing  the  trident  high,  as  before,  dancing  in  graceful,  slow,  wave-like  mo 
tion  until  Orato,  our  priest,  seeing  the  burning  incense  was  fully  con 
sumed,  motioned  to  the  musicians  to  cease.  Although  it  was  a  joyous 
dance,  with  happy,  smiling  faces,  its  close  was  not  followed  by  applause 
because  all  felt  that  after  dancing  and  music  in  praise  of  the  Gods 
applause  was  out  of  place. 

Venortius,  one  of  King  Heritoges'  nobles,  spoke  from  the  judge's 
stand,  as  follows :  "Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens  and  Fellow  Syra- 
cuseans !  There  will  be  held  a  three-days'  feast  in  honor  of  our  guests. 
It  is  the  hope  of  his  highness,  King  Heritoges,  and  of  all  Syracuseans 
that  you  will  decide  to  remain  among  us  many  days  longer.  Tomorrow 
games  and  contests  will  again  take  place.  King  Heritoges  has  willed 
it  that  now  all  proceed  to  the  near-by  banquet  boards,  which  are  bend 
ing  with  the  weight  of  firstlings  of  fruits  and  wild  game  of  our  forests. 
It  has  been  agreed  by  all  that  the  Syracuseans  will  lead  the  Athenian 
maidens  and  Athenians-Syracusean  maidens  to  the  banquet  tables.  King 
Heritoges  will  first  choose  an  Athenian  maiden  and  will  lead  the  way  to 
the  banquet  board." 

King  Heritoges  and  all  his  noble  warriors  walked  toward  our  Athe 
nian  maidens  and  with  courtly  grace,  gallantry,  King  Heritoges  said: 
"Noble  maidens,  I  will  not  delay  in  making  choice,  for  where  all  are  the 
perfection  of  beauty  and  nobility,  to  make  a  choice  would  be  bewilder 
ing.  Thus  will  I  walk  straight  forward  and  the  noble  maiden  nearest, 
will  I  have  the  great  pleasure  to  lead  to  the  banquet." 

Modestes,  happening-  to  be  nearest  to  the  King,  in  company  with 
him,  led  the  way  to  the  banquet,  followed  by  the  others. 

Our  Priest  Orato  and  Sircuno,  Priest  to  the  Syracuse  Gods,  sat  at 
one  end  of  the  long  center  table.  Orato  arose  and  said:  "Noble  ban 
queters- Syracuseans !  Our  Gods  may  not  be  your  Gods,  and  your  Gods 
may  not  be  ours.  On  whatever  shores  we  may  land,  we  worship  only 
our  gods;  but  also  be  it  known,  we  mock  not  the  gods  of  other  lands. 


272  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

It  has  been  agreed  that  Sircuno,  Priest  to  the  Gods  of  Syracuse,  lead  in 
prayer ;  and  if  we  feel  that  I  also  should  extend  our  thanks  to  our  Gods 
of  Greece,  it  remains  my  privilege  to  do  so." 

Sircuno,  Priest  to  the  Gods  of  Syracuse,  arose  and  said :  "Noble  Ban 
queters,  Brave  Athenians!  Our  Gods  may  not  be  your  Gods,  nor  your 
Gods  ours ;  and  we  also  do  not  mock  the  Gods  of  Greece,  however 
strange  some  of  them  may  appear  to  us.  We  are  told  that  Zeus  is  your 
God  of  Gods,  also  is  he  our  God  of  Gods  (some  call  him  Jupiter),  but 
many  other  Gods  have  you  which  are  strange  to  us ;  so  at  this  banquet 
it  will  be  fit  to  invoke  the  blessings  of  Zeus  only — the  God  of  Gods: 
O  Zeus,  the  incense  now  ascending  to  Thee  at  this  Athenian- Syracuse 
banquet,  O  may  its  sweet  perfume  be  sweetest  savor  unto  Thee.  Thy 
goodness  it  is,  O  Zeus,  that  causes  the  banquet  board  to  bend  under 
weight  of  rich,  savory,  steaming  firstlings  of  sheep,  of  cattle,  cereals  of 
the  field  and  firstlings  of  fruit  and  wild  game,  of  sea,  river  and  forests. 
The  observance  at  a  feast  by  our  Athenian  guests,  O  Zeus,  is  also  as 
that  of  our  Syracuseans.  Our  noble  guests  also  partake  not  thereof 
until  offerings  of  the  same,  with  libations,  have  ascended  in  vapor  to 
Thy  high  abode.  O  Zeus,  God  of  Gods,  we  humbly  thank  Thee  for  the 
feast  so  bounteously  spread  before  us  at  this  banquet  and  we  pray  may 
our  offerings  be  acceptable  as  ambrosia  and  nectar  unto  Thee,  O  Zeus." 

After  the  burnt  offerings  had  ascended,  the  banqueters  regaled  them 
selves  with  the  savory  viands  and  fruits.  Syracuse  wine  was  several 
times  passed  around  to  all  in  gracefully  curved  drinking  horns.  At 
intervals,  during  the  partaking  of  the  meal,  the  following  men  and 
maidens  at  different  times  arose  and  spoke  as  follows : 

Diagorax  said :  "Brave  Syracuseans !  Although  we  are  on  a  far-off 
distant  shore,  we  feel  that  we  are  among  people  with  whom  we  can 
claim  kinship.  We  feel  that  we  are  among  trusty  friends.  (Applause.) 
May  your  Gods  bless  you  for  the  noble  feast  held  in  our  honor  this  day. 
Also  let  us  hope,  may  we  not  too  many  moons  hence  also  greet  you  in 
Athens  and  truly  a  feast  will  we  hold  in  your  honor.  Two  more  days 
will  we  sojourn  among  our  friends.  May  our  commercial  friendship 
prove  to  be  to  the  mutual  profit  of  Syracuse  and  Athens.  May  the  Gods 
ever  look  down  with  favor  on  the  noble  King  and  Queen  Heritoges;  to 
the  welfare  and  greatness  of  Syracuse  and  Ortygia.  (Applause.)  In 
that  spirit,  may  we  ask  our  drinking  horns  to  be  refilled  with  clear 
Syracuse  wine  and  passed  around  and  partaken  of  by  the  banqueters." 

King  Heritoges,  who  was  still  a  young  man,  arose  and  said :  "Noble 
adventurers!  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  Your  noble  words  of  friend 
ship  and  welfare  for  our  Syracuse  and  Ortygia  sounds  pleasing  to  our 
ears  and  delights  the  hearts  and  minds  of  all  my  people.  Not  being  fit 
for  a  King  to  talk  at  length,  Sicilotes  will  address  you  instead." 

Sicilotes,  one  of  the  nobles  arose  and  said: 


Syracuse  273 

"Athenian  Four  Hundred!  Brave  Adventurers!  Your  monster 
ship  yonder,  lying  in  our  bay,  strikes  us  with  wonder,  awe,  admiration 
and  we  may  also  say  with  reverence.  The  feeling  that  arises  on  behold 
ing  your  wonderful  ship,  creates  the  thought  that  the  Gods  must  look 
down  with  great  favor  on  the  nation  to  which  the  ship  belongs.  Truly 
does  it  look  like  a  gift  from  the  gods.  Your  ship  looks  like  a  many- 
winged  chariot  speeding  o'er  the  liquid  plain.  That  such  a  ship's  voy 
agers  should  be  the  favored  of  the  earth,  seems  very  fitting.  Sad  will 
all  of  us  be  on  viewing  the  departure  from  our  bay  of  your  grand  ship. 
Also  allow  our  hearts  to  speak  out — sad  will  many  of  us  feel  at  the  de 
parture  of  your  noble  beauties.  I  will  not  use  words  of  praise,  for  our 
Athenian  guests  stand  not  in  need  of  praise.  Noble  adventurers !  With 
greater  pride  than  ever  can  we,  from  this  day  forth,  recall  the  tradition 
that  our  ancestors  in  the  far  misty  past  were  driven  to  these  Sicilian 
shores  by  storm  from  distant  Greece.  No  wonder  that  their  superior 
strength,  courage  and  wisdom  drove  the  simple  people  that  lived  here 
from  the  most  fruitful  lands.  Although  our  language  has  through 
moons  of  separations  drifted  somewhat  apart,  still  we  are  already  be 
ginning  to  understand  each  other  much  better.  But  there  is  one  lan 
guage,  no  matter  how  far  distant  apart  peoples  may  have  lived,  or  what 
ever  different  tongues  they  may  speak — that  language  is  often  under- 
etood  more  truly  and  more  deeply  than  the  language  of  words. 
It  Is,  as  you  all  may  guess,  the  language  of  the  eyes.  Yes,  the  lan 
guage  spoken  with  the  eyes  this  and  the  forthcoming  two  days,  between 
our  men  and  maidens  at  our  feasts — may  it  bear  fruit  to  the  glory  of 
Athens  and  Syracuse.  (Slight  applause.) 

"Adventurous  Athenians !  You  are  out  on  the  wide  seas,  landing  at 
distant  shores  for  the  purpose  of  friendship  and  commerce.  Our  bar- 
terers  and  tradespeople  will  be  glad  to  meet  you.  Phoenician  merchant 
ships,  but  very  much  smaller  than  your  grand  ship,  come  to  our  bay  at 
long  intervals  of  time  to  exchange  and  barter  merchandise  of  various 
kinds  with  our  tradespeople.  Phoenicians  look  for  a  large  profit;  and, 
richly  laden,  return  their  ships  homeward.  Phoenicians  are  born  bar- 
terers,  traders  and  merchants.  Much  more  would  our  Syracuse  traders 
prefer  to  trade  with  your  Athenian  merchants. 

"Phoenicians  say  that  because  they  were  driven  almost  into  the  sea 
by  more  powerful  surrounding  nations,  so  that  it  has  become  a  by-word ; 
'Phoenicians  stand  with  one  foot  on  land  and  one  foot  in  the  sea.'  The 
Gods  in  the  stillness  of  night  spoke  to  their  King,  saying:  'King  of 
Phoenicia,  of  what  does  the  flat  world  consist?'  The  King  somewhat 
absently  answered :  'Of  land  and  water.'  'Rightly  hast  Thou  answered ; 
it  consists  of  land  and  water,'  spoke  the  God.  'They  have  driven  thy 
people  unto  the  shores  of  the  sea,  but  a  vast  empire  shall  b£  thine  and 
thy  people's  inheritance;  an  empire,  the  greatest  in  the  world  shall  thy 


274  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

people  inherit.  King  of  Phoenicia,  truly  will  its  vastness  astound  thee. 
The  limits  of  the  flat  world  shall  be  its  boundary.  Many  cities  and  rich 
shores  in  far-off  distant  lands  will  be  washed  by  the  restless  billows  com 
posing  thy  empire.  The  stationary  star  in  the  north  blue  vault  above, 
may  it  be  called  the  Phoenician  star;  by  it  guided,  will  thy  seafarers 
sail  in  many  ships  over  thy  boundless  liquid  empire  to  distant  cities  that 
lie  on  its  shores,  bays  and  rivers;  and  returning,  will  bring  to  your 
Phoenician  shores  rich  merchandise.  Thus  will  your  ships  waft  the 
riches  of  many  distant  shores  to  your  own  Phoenicia  and  your  cities 
become  rich  and  powerful,  so  that  it  will  become  a  saying  in  Phoenicia  : 
"The  ship  bringeth  abundance  from  afar." '  It  is  said  that  the  Gods  also 
spoke  to  the  King  further:  'The  vast  sea  shall  be  the  Phoenician  Em 
pire.  But,  O  King,  needful  is  it  to  know  that  the  ruler  of  thy  empire 
of  the  sea  above  all  mortals  is  Neptune.  To  him  never  cease  to  pay 
due  libations,  sacrifice,  thanks  and  prayer.  For  without  the  favor  of 
the  gods,  the  greatest  of  empires  must  fall.' 

"Noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred!  So  speak  and  narrate  the  Phoeni 
cian  seamen  and  traders  to  us.  Phoenicians  claim  the  sea  as  their  em 
pire;  so  willed  by  the  Gods.  This,  noble  guests,  I  tell  you,  so  that  you 
will  keep  distant  from  their  ships  and  cities,  like  strong  Carthage. 
Much  smaller  are  their  ships;  but  they  are  the  greatest  of  seafarers. 
I  have  been  asked  whether  we  Syracuseans  know  where  Ophir  or 
Tarshish  are;  lands  or  shores  from  which  the  Phoenicians  carry  rich 
silver  and  gold.  None  of  us  know  where  Ophir  lies;  but  Tarshish  we 
know  must  lie  not  far  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  King  Heritoges  has  appointed 
and  honored  me  to  present  to  you  this  Phoenician  work  of  art,  repre 
senting  Hermes  (Mercury),  who  presides  over  commerce.  By  his 
winged  cap  and  winged  sandals  and  his  carrying  a  rod  entwined  with 
two  serpents,  called  Caduceus,  you  all  no  doubt  know  him.  Every 
Phoenician  ship  constantly  carries  an  image  of  him,  who  presides  over 
commerce.  So,  too,  may  he  who  presides  over  commerce,  find  a  place 
on  your  great  ship  and  thus  obtain  his  favor  towards  a  successful  com 
mercial  adventure.  Noble  Commercial  Voyagers!  I  also  present  this 
finely  carved  red  wood  caduceus,  of  Phoenician  origin.  May  your  ship's 
priest  indue  you  with  commercial  craft  refined  by  holding  the  same  over 
your  heads,  as  do  the  Phoenicians  upon  embarking  upon  their  commer 
cial  voyages.  (Applause.)  Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  Upon 
this  auspicious  day,  allow  me  to  conclude: 

Long  after  you  return 

To  your  fair  native  shore 
Your  music  still  will  dwell 
»  In  memory,  evermore. 


Syracuse  275 

Long  after  you  are  gone 
Your  songs  will  still  ring  on, 
Will  oft,  through  memory's  ear, 
Our  moods  elate  and  cheer. 

Long  after  you  are  gone 
Your  songs  will  still  ring  on, 
And  pleasantly  recall 
Four  Hundred — Handsome  all. 

Long  after  you  are  gone 
Your  songs  will  still  ring  on, 
Will  oft  waft  clouds  away, 
By  night  as  well  as  day. 

Long  after  you  are  gone 
Your  songs  will  still  ring  on, 
And  bring  to  memory's  view 
The  noble,  brave  and  true. 

Long  after  you  are  gone 

Your  songs  will  still  ring  on, 

Recall  the  sport  and  play 

Of  this,  our  festal  day."  (Applause.) 

Hypnothoon,  who  with  Marstenes  and  Rosania,  had  been  in  conver 
sation  with  Theognis  a  short  time  before,  arose  and  said:  "Noble 
Syracuseans!  Upon  stepping  upon  your  fertile  soil,  we  immediately 
felt  we  had  landed  among  brothers.  (Applause.)  Brave  friends,  we 
find,  beyond  much  doubt,  and  we  honor  ourselves  by  so  saying,  that 
you  are  the  descendants  of  our  Hellenic  race,  your  forefathers  having 
landed  here  in  the  misty  ages  of  the  long  ago.  Not  long  did  it  take  us 
to  understand  each  other.  From  this  first  day's  feast,  from  the  broth 
erly  and  sisterly  friendship  and  rich  banquet  spread  before  us,  we  look 
forward  to  the  two  remaining  days  with  great  pleasure.  (Applause.) 
It  is  our  hope  to  live  and  enjoy  the  day  when  Syracuseans  will  also 
tread  upon  our  Athenian  soil,  for  that  is  the  only  way  in  which  we  can 
fully  show  our  thanks  and  appreciation  of  your  noble,  friendly  greet 
ing.  (Applause.)  Phoebus  has  just  passed  the  Zenith  and  much  more 
would  we  have  to  say  and  would  we  be  pleased  also  to  listen  to  at  this 
banquet,  but  especially  for  our  maidens'  sake,  we  must  say  that  at  our 
previous  landing,  the  air  was  so  dense  with  falling  ashes  from  Mt. 
Aetna  that  we  all  feel  that  we  should  enjoy  an  ocean  bath  before 
Phoebus  passes  down  the  west  side  of  the  world  this  day.  Then  we  all 
will  be  refreshed  and  in  a  mood  to  engage  in  the  games  which  are  to 
take  place  on  the  two  remaining  feast  days.  Therefore,  may  swimming, 
high  and  low  diving  and  boat  rowing  contests  take  place  for  the  re 
mainder  of  this  day.  Marstenes  and  Rosania  will  now  form  us  in 
marching  order  for  our  return  to  the  ship,  where  we  can  come  in 


276  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

touch  with  and  enjoy  the  refreshing  element  of  Neptune's  liquid  realm, 
to  which  we  also  invite  all  Syracuseans  to  witness  and  take  part  in  the 
contests." 

Kidnapdeus,  one  of  the  nobles  who  sat  alongside  of  the  King,  im 
mediately  arose  and  said:  "Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  It  also 
pleases  us  greatly  to  follow  in  the  procession  to  the  shores  near  your 
grand  ship  and  take  part  in  and  behold  the  aquatic  contests.  Noble 
Four  Hundred!  His  highness,  King  Heritoges,  just  asked  me  to  say 
that  one  of  the  most  pleasurable  events  of  the  three  days'  feast  held 
in  your  honor  will  take  place  on  the  third  feast-day.  We  know,  Noble 
Four  Hundred,  without  asking,  that  you  all  delight  in  hunting,  which 
truly  is  a  noble  passion.  There  is  wild  game  in  great  numbers  at  a 
close  distance  on  hills,  mountains,  valleys  and  forests — such  that  flee 
on  wings,  as  well  as  such  that  leap  and  bound  or  run  on  feet.  Noble 
Four  Hundred,  none  of  you  need  fail  of  returning  without  a  trophy  of 
the  chase.  Syracusean  hunters  will  accompany  you  and  lead  to  haunts 
of  the  kind  of  game  you  prefer,  but  no  Syracusean  will  hunt  game  for 
himself  on  that  day.  Early  in  the  morning  will  the  chase  begin  and 
shortly  after  Phoebus  has  passed  the  zenith,  we  will  all  return  laden 
with  various  trophies  of  the  chase.  Early,  even  before  Aurora  heralds 
the  coming  of  day,  after  prayer  and  sacrifice  for  success  to  your  Ar 
temis,  our  Diana,  goddess  of  the  chase,  we  will  march  with  a  large 
number  of  Syracusean  hunters  to  carry  your  bows  and  javelins  to  the 
mountains  and  valley  forests.  On  the  march  to  the  mountain  side  and 
valley  forests,  there  will  be  sung  in  honor  of  your  Artemis,  our  Diana, 
goddess  of  the  chase,  who  always  carries  a  bow  and  arrow ;  our  hunt 
ing  song,  beginning : 

O  Queen  and  Huntress,  chaste  and  fair, 
O  lead  us  to  the  wild  beast's  lair. 

"The  King's  chariots  will  later  also  follow  and  stand  ready  to  take 
such  of  the  maidens  back  who  may  have  become  injured  or  too  tired 
to  walk  back.  Noble  Four  Hundred,  may  the  march  now  proceed  to  the 
ship." 

Marstenes  gave  the  order  to  our  warriors  to  fall  in  line  ready  to 
march  back  to  the  ship,  which  was  followed  by  Rosania  in  com 
mand  of  our  maidens.  A  large  number  of  Syracuseans  insisted  by  their 
actions,  that  they  desired  to  walk  in  the  march  with  our  Athenian 
maidens,  with  whom  they  had  sat  at  the  banquet  board.  Marstenes 
again  commanded  all  the  voyagers  to  fall  in  line  in  the  same  manner 
and  order  for  the  ship  as  when  they  came  from  the  ship. 
Rosania  also  spoke  the  same  to  the  maidens.  Marstenes,  finding  some 
of  the  Syracuseans  determined  against  even  the  will  of  our  maidens,  to 
walk  in  their  ranks,  found  it  necessary  to  say  in  a  very  strong,  deter- 


Syracuse  277 

mined  voice:  "Noble  Syracuseans,  Athenians  insist  that  military  com 
mands  must  be  obeyed  always!  Athenians  will  not  march  until  our 
commands  are  fully  followed." 

Soon  all  were  in  marching  order.  The  Syracuseans  followed  in  long 
processions  with  drums  and  music.  Arriving  at  the  landing,  all  the 
voyagers  went  on  the  ship.  King  Heritoges,  with  several  of  his  most 
intimate  nobles,  were  invited  to  come  on  board  and  view  the  ship.  One 
of  the  nobles  came  on  the  ship  and  said  it  was  against  the  King's  laws 
and  also  against  the  wishes  of  his  people  that  their  King  should  set 
foot  on  any  but  Syracuse  ships. 

Orientes,  standing  on  the  bulwark  of  the  ship,  spoke  out  in  her 
clear,  sweet  voice,  towards  the  wharf:  "Noble  Syracuseans,  brave 
friends!  Although  his  highness,  your  noble  King  Heritoges,  can  not 
accept  our  invitation  to  come  on  board  of  our  ship  and  view  its  large  de 
partments,  we  still  have  the  honor  of  asking  him  to  permit  his  people  up 
to  the  number  of  three  hundred,  according  to  his  selection  in  lots  of 
fifty  at  a  time,  to  visit  our  ship." 

King  Heritoges  stepped  forward  from  the  nobles  to  the  wharf's  edge 
and  replied:  "Charming  Athenian  maiden!  Your  full  rounded,  clear 
voice,  inviting  my  people  to  visit  your  great  wonderful  ship  Aeolus,  the 
deep  pleasant  voice  of  a  most  beautiful  charming  maiden,  truly  an 
invitation  by  such  a  voice  and  from  such  a  source,  is  equal  to  a  com 
mand  which  can  not  be  disobeyed  by  any  mortal  worthy  of  the  name 
man"  (Applause  on  all  sides.) 

Gracio,  master  of  athletics  and  games,  announced  from  the  bulwark : 
"Be  it  known  to  all  the  people,  the  swimming,  diving  and  rowing  con 
tests  will  now  take  place."  The  aquatic  contests  were,  to  a  great  extent, 
and  could  without  much  effort,  have  been  won  by  our  voyager  contest 
ants,  but  as  guests,  they  refrained  from  making  the  necessary  efforts. 
On  the  shore,  in  the  presence  of  the  King,  the  victors  received  their 
various  prizes. 

All  the  Athenians  being  again  on  the  ship,  Sophon,  standing  on  the 
bulwark,  said:  "To  us  Athenians  from  this  day  on,  the  word  Syra- 
cusean  and  the  word  Friend  will  have  the  same  meaning.  Therefore, 
I  can  address  you  as  friends.  (Great  applause  on  shore.)  But  we  can 
even  go  farther,  believing  almost  beyond  all  doubt  that  you  are 
descendants  of  our  Hellenic  race  and  we  address  you  as  brothers- 
countrymen,  (Great  applause.) 

"Our  Committee  on  Commerce  says  your  barterers  and  tradespeople 
have  met  them  in  a  very  friendly  way  and  that  many  valuable  Syra 
cuse  goods  have  been  exchanged  for  Athenian  goods  to  the  profit  of  both 
Syracuse  and  Athens.  (Applause.) 

"That  Is  the  real  first  object  of  our  grand  ship's  voyage — commerce 
for  the  good  of  the  shores  we  land  at  and  for  the  good  of  Athens.  You 


278  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

have  told  us  that  Tarshish,  from  whence  Phoenicians  obtain  gold,  lies 
not  far  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  We  will  not  forget  that,  and  as 
the  Pillars  of  Hercules  is  the  furthest  western  limit  of  our  journey,  the 
Phoenician  ships'  also,  we  will  make  diligent  search  and  inquiry  to  dis 
cover  the  shores  or  lands  of  those  gold  mines.  If  we  are  successful  in 
obtaining  gold  from  Tarshish,  we  will  upon  our  return  here,  pay  you  in 
Tarshish  gold  for  the  information  given  to  us.  (Great  applause.) 

"Upon  the  ship's  second  voyage  from  Athens,  if  the  Fates  grant  it, 
the  ship  will  be  laden  with  a  larger  and  more  varied  stock  of  merchan 
dise  and  our  Committee  of  Commerce  will  be  able  to  sell,  buy  and  bar 
ter  to  a  greater  volume  and  extent  than  at  this  ship's  first  voyage.  Our 
Captain  Arteus,  whose  power  on  the  ship  is  similar  to  that  of  a  King  on 
land,  is  very  anxious  to  complete  our  voyage  in  the  shortest  possible 
time.  Therefore,  we  can  not  to  a  certainty  promise  that  we  can  remain 
two  days  longer.  We  announce  this,  for  he  may  decide  to  sail  at  any 
time  suitable  to  him. 

"Noble  friends,  whether  we  remain  two  days  longer  or  not,  one  thing 
is  certain,  this  Syracusean-Athenian  festal  day  will  remain  in  our  mem 
ories  until  each  of  us  passes  to  the  shades  below.  The  thought  and  re 
membrance  of  this  joyful,  noble  festal  day,  will  throughout  our  lives 
bring  the  pleasures  of  the  day  before  our  eyes  again — will  make  us 
think  of  the  brave,  noble,  valiant  Syracuse  friends  we  met  in  joyful, 
worthy  contests  on  the  beautiful  grand  island  of  Sicily.  Hunting  on 
your  mountain  sides  and  in  the  ralley  forests  where  wild  streams1  are 
rushing  onward  and  small  and  large  game  abound  in  great  variety  as 
you  say,  Oh,  that  would  be  great  sport  for  all  of  us.  The  chase  is  a 
noble  passion,  as  also  is  the  longing  to  sail  over  the  waters  blue  in  fast 
ships.  Syracuseans!  Friends!  The  shades  of  night  will  soon  spread 
their  wings  over  land  and  sea  and  as  they  close  this  joyous  noble  festal 
day,  our  voyagers  in  song  and  music,  will  sing  a  farewell  song,  ex 
pressing  our  appreciation  of  your  noble  Syracusean  friendship."  (Ap 
plause.  ) 

The  rigging  and  cross-trees  and  masts,  up  to  their  highest  tops,  are 
crowded  with  our  men  and  maiden  voyagers,  who  with  those  on  deck, 
and  the  music,  sang  the  following: 

FAREWELL  SONG  TO  THE  SYRACUSEANS. 

Farewell,  grand  shore;    farewell,  broad  hills; 

Farewell,  ye  valleys  green; 
Farewell,  brave  men;    farewell,  fair  maids; 

Farewell,  Syracusean  scene. 

Of  you  we'll  think  until  we  sink 

To  darkest  shades  below; 
Will  oft  recall  our  pleasures  all 

Till  Life's  last  blood  drops  flow. 


Syracuse  279 

Farewell,  proud  land,  farewell,  O  strand 

Of  noble  friends  and  true — 
Where  Ortygian  Isle  rests  like  a  smile 

Upon  the  waters  blue. 

Farewell,  farewell,  oh,  oft  we'll  tell 

Of  this  grand  festal  day ; 
Of  friends  we  made — of  games  we  played, 

In  beauteous  bright  array. 
Farewell,  Farewell,  Farewell. 

The  King,  nobles  and  populace  cheered,  and  as  darkness  was  begin 
ning  to  lower  o'er  the  land,  the  crowds  and  the  King,  escorted  with 
music,  returned  to  the  town  and  castle. 

The  roll  call  on  the  ship  showed  that  all  the  voyagers  were  on 
board.  After  the  roll  call,  Terrafirma  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said: 
"Fellow  Voyagers,  as  darkness  is  fast  covering  land  and  sea,  I  will  only 
say  what  is  already  known  to  some  of  us,  namely:  that  our  ship  will 
not  remain  here  two  days  longer,  but  will,  for  reasons  which  will  be 
explained  by  Marstenes  on  the  coming  morning,  sail  out  of  this  bay, 
during  the  night  perhaps  and  precede  on  its  voyage  westward.  That  is 
all  to-night." 

Anaxogerous : 

This  night  will  have  little  for  me  to  record.  All  is  quiet  on  ship  and 
land.  The  ship's  flags  have  all  been  hauled  down.  Seamen  are  hauling 
the  floating  wharf  on  deck  again.  The  connection  with  the  shore  is 
broken.  Hilicarus  says :  "Captain  Arteus  has  not  yet  stated  when  the 
ship  will  sail."  It  is  past  midnight.  Captain  Arteus  is  on  deck,  holding 
a  conference  with  several  of  his  officers.  Hilicarus  says  the  captain 
has  ordered  all  things  to  be  gotten  in  readiness  for  sailing.  He  informs 
the  seamen  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  in  haste,  as  there  is  ample 
time  before  the  east  shows  signs  of  coming  day ;  also  tells  them  to  work 
as  noiselessly  as  possible,  so  as  not  to  disturb  the  voyagers  in  their 
sleep.  The  night  land  breeze  is  blowing  mildly  o'er  the  bay.  Aurora's 
first  dim  light  in  the  east  is  noticeable.  Captain  Arteus  has  ordered 
the  hoisting  of  the  sails.  The  large  stone  anchors  are  hauled  on  deck. 
Proudly  is  our  Aeolus  sailing  out  of  the  bay  into  the  wide,  open  sea. 
Syracuseans  will  look  for  our  ship  in  the  morning,  but  will  see  it  not. 

With  all  sails  set,  we  are  now  rounding  Point  Plemmyrium,  south 
ward,  with  great  speed.  Aurora  has  stepped  aside  for  Helios.  Helios 
has  risen  above  the  waters.  Gold-tipped  wavelets  are  dancing  in  the 
morning  breeze.  The  voyagers  are  coming  on  deck.  The  wind  has 
changed  to  the  north.  One  of  the  officers  says  if  the  wind  remains  so 
for  many  days  it  would  carry  us  to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

Our  ship  is  now  rounding  Cape  Pachynum.  Our  course  will  now 
be  in  a  northwesterly  direction  along  the  coast  of  Sicily.  The  voy- 


280  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

agers  are  all  on  deck.    Our  priest  ascends  the  rostrum,  surrounded  by 
all  the  voyagers. 

After  lighting  the  tripod,  Orato  says:  "Noble  voyagers,  upon  this 
bright  beautiful  morning,  it  is  our  first  duty  to  thank  Zeus  and  all  our 
Gods  that  we  are  still  here  to  view  this  beautiful  morning.  Oh,  Zeus, 
most  glorious  of  the  immortals,  God  of  Gods !  To  Thee  our  thanks  as 
cend,  for  Thy  protection  against  the  designs  of  those  whom  we  called 
friends.  Verily  they  were  our  friends.  Alas!  too  good  friends,  more 
than  friends,  for  they  deeply  admired  and  loved  the  maidens  of  our  ship 
so  truly  that  they  were  willing  to  give  their  lives  in  the  attempt  to 
secure  their  close  friendship  for  life.  But,  O  Zeus,  Thou  hast  in  a 
manner,  made  their  loving  designs  known  to  us  and  given  us  due  warn 
ing,  so  that  instead  of  the  loss  of  many  lives,  and  perhaps  our  great 
ship,  we  are  here  far  from  the  designing  Syracuseans'  shore,  sailing  on 
ward  on  our  noble  mission  of  commerce  and  peace.  May  the  incense 
arising  from  our  tripod  to  your  Olympian  abode  be  acceptable  to  Thee, 
O  Zeus.  So  pray  with  humble  hearts  to  Thee,  O  Zeus,  all  who  dwell 
within  this  grand  ship's  wall." 

Clad  in  the  garb  of  Hermes,  Orato  continued :  "Now  I  will  hold  the 
caduceus  over  each  of  your  heads  singly  and  with  silent  words  of  invo 
cations,  indue  you  with  commercial  craft  refined." 

Emporiacles  of  the  Committee  of  Commerce  spoke  from  the  ros 
trum,  as  follows :  "Fellow  Voyagers,  your  Committee  of  Commerce  has 
been  received  with  great  friendship  by  the  Syracuse  barterers  and 
tradespeople.  They  were  also  in  our  ship  and  we  have  exchanged 
many  useful  articles  which  can  be  seen  in  our  ship's  store  room.  We 
find  that  trade  with  Syracuse  would  be  very  profitable.  But  as  we 
were  hastily  informed  that  our  ship  would  remain  only  one  day,  we 
could  not  trade  to  such  an  extent  as  if  the  ship  had  remained  for  the 
time  as  proposed.  We  can  report  that  commercially  our  landing  at 
Syracuse  was  a  perfect  success."  (Applause.) 

Hypnothoon,  standing  among  the  voyagers,  on  deck,  said:  "Fellow 
voyagers.  Theognis  will  relate  matters  that  will  explain  why  our  ship 
did  not  remain  two  days  longer,  as  was  our  first  intention." 

Theognis  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  voyagers,  you 
all  know  that  it  is  also  my  mission  to  mingle  among  the  people,  es 
pecially  the  prominent  personages,  unnoticed  if  possible,  in  order  to 
detect,  if  possible,  whether  any  war-like  feelings  or  designs  have  a 
dwelling-place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  chiefs  or  kings  against  us 
Athenians.  I  know  not  why,  but  I  felt  as  if  I  were  being  told  by  some 
higher  being  that  I  should  remain  unnoticed,  if  possible,  in  close  dis 
tance  to  King  Heritoges,  and  his  nobles;  to  watch  and  listen  intently 
to  find  out  whether  they  were  real  friends  or  partly  enemies  of  our 
ship's  commercial  designs. 


ALL  THE  VOYAGERS,  INCLUDING  THE  MAIDENS,  ARE  INDUED  WITH 
COMMERCIAL  CRAFT  REFINED.     (See  page  280.) 


Syracuse  281 

"The  Syracuseans,  being  far  greater  in  number  than  our  Athenians, 
I  thought  of  the  not  impossible.  Fellow  Athenians,  during  your  wave 
dance  and  song,  in  honor  and  praise  of  Neptune,  I  sat  quite  unnoticed 
to  the  left,  not  far  back  of  King  Heritoges.  I  acted  as  though  I  were 
half  asleep,  but  kept  my  eyes  open  enough  so  as  not  to  miss  any  of  the 
King's  and  surrounding  noble's  excited  movements  and  gestures,  and, 
let  me  remark,  not  to  miss  their  intense  longing  and  critical  glances  at 
our  Athenian  maidens.  The  light  wind  blowing  in  my  direction,  made 
their  words  strike  my  ear  very  distinctly.  At  times  I  felt  startled 
within  me,  but  I  remained  seemingly  unconcerned  and  watched  the 
dancing. 

"At  times,  various  of  the  nobles  would  jump  up  and  point  out  to  the 
King  or  other  nobles,  with  words  of  admiration,  to  some  one  or  all  of 
our  maidens.  They  all  went  into  high  ecstasies  over  their  beauty  and 
graceful  movements.  So  far,  their  intense  admiration  pleased  me 
greatly. 

"King  Heritoges,  who  is  a  young  man,  I  heard  say:  'To  select  a 
maiden  from  the  large  number  of  Athenian  beauties,  is  difficult.  If  one 
looks  at  a  light  blonde,  she  is  very  pretty ;  if  one  turns  his  glances  to 
ward  a  brunette,  none  can  be  handsomer.  If  a  dark  blonde  passes  by, 
none  can  be  more  charming.  Truly,'  said  the  King,  'some  of  those 
Athenian  maidens  must  remain  with  us.'  So  spoke  the  King,  with  deep 
determined  earnestness. 

"One  of  the  nobles,  near  the  King,  stood  up  and  said:  'Nobly 
spoken,  your  highness.  Such  god-favored  beauties  should  not  all  be 
allowed  to  escape  from  our  shores.' 

"One  noble  said :  'Many  lives  would  it  cost  to  retain  even  the  least 
of  them.  For  the  noble  Athenian's  bearing  and  eyes  tell  one  that  they 
would  all  die  first,  to  a  man,  before  they  would  allow  one  of  their 
maiden  voyagers  to  remain  here.  Pray  to  the  Gods,'  he  said,  'that  this 
grand  friendly  Athenian-Syracusean  festal  day  be  not  turned  into  a 
terrible  deadly,  bloody  combat  between  distant  brothers.' 

"Another  of  the  nobles  said:  'We  can  plan  to  keep  some  of  those 
beauties  here  without  resorting  to  combat.  We  can  offer  Syracuse 
maidens  in  their  places.' 

"Another  noble  stood  up  and  said:  'Those  stalwart  Athenians  are 
still  strangers  to  you,  it  seems.' 

"A  number  of  the  nobles  arose  excitedly  at  the  same  time  and  gave 
it  as  their  opinion  that  if  they  did  not  plan  to  keep  some  of  those  beau 
ties  from  departing  with  the  ship,  they  certainly  were  not  worthy  of 
the  name  of  men. 

"Another  noble  said :  'I'd  be  willing  to  place  my  life  on  the  balance 
for  any  one  of  those  beauties,  as  far  as  that  goes.' 


282  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Another  said:  'Their  graceful  forms  and  movements,  as  seen  in 
the  dance,  in  honor  of  Neptune,  and  their  beauty  is  beyond  expression.' 

"King  Heritoges  said:  'The  longer  and  closer  one  looks  at  them, 
the  more  charming  and  irresistible  they  appear.  As  one  glances  from 
one  to  the  other,  each  one  seems  the  most  beautiful.' 

"One  of  the  nobles  near  the  King  said  with  deep  feelings  of  admira 
tion  :  'Truly  the  various  kinds  of  perfect  beauty  is  bewildering.  Come, 
let  us  plan  to  keep  at  least  six  of  the  large  number  of  Athenian  beau 
ties.' 

"One  of  them  arose  and  said :  'That  can  be  done  without  giving  the 
Athenians  any  reason  for  bloodshed.' 

"  'How?'  asked  one  of  the  nobles.  'Do  you  mean  to  barter  them  for 
Syracuse  maidens,  allowing  two  for  one,  perhaps?' 

"  'No,'  the  other  replied,  'if  King  Heritoges  is  satisfied  to  have  me 
unfold  the  plan,  I  will  do  so.' 

"  'Yes,'  said  the  King,  'unfold  it.  We  need  not  carry  it  out  if  it  does 
not  seem  feasible.' 

"  'Surely,'  said  a  noble,  'two  for  King  Heritoges  and  four  for  some 
of  us  nobles — six  in  all — would  not  be  many  from  such  a  large  number 
of  young  maidens.' 

"  'I  will  explain,  as  I  intimated  before,  how  to  plan  it,'  said  the  noble 
who  had  suggested  a  scheme  for  retaining  the  maidens  without  resort 
ing  to  strife,  'so  that  we'll  say  six  of  the  beauties  can  be  held  back  from 
departure  with  the  ship  when  it  leaves  our  shores.  At  the  coming  ban 
quet,  after  the  games,  have  it  announced  by  one  of  us  that  King  Heri 
toges  has  planned  the  Athenian- Syracusean  festal  day  so  that  its  great 
est  and  most  interesting  and  exciting  feature  will  take  place  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day ;  namely,  a  grand  hunt  on  the  mountain  sides 
and  in  the  valley  forests  is  to  be  announced  at  this  day's  banquet,  to 
which  all  Athenian  men  and  maidens  are  to  be  invited  in  the  name  of 
King  Heritoges.  We  are  to  accompany  them  with  dogs  for  the  chase, 
but  no  Syracusean,  it  should  be  stated,  shall  attempt  to  secure  trophies 
of  the  chase.  When  out  in  the  forest  chariots  should  be  in  readiness, 
into  which  six  of  the  maidens  should  be  hurried  by  men  who  are  dressed 
as  robbers  and  brigands,  and  swiftly  driven  to  far  distant,  densely  se 
cluded  hunting  huts.  There  they  must  be  held  captive,  but  treated 
well  until  the  Athenians  are  on  some  far  distant  coast.  Thai 
will  not  cause  bloodshed,  for  we  all  can  pretend  to  make  great 
efforts  to  capture  the  robbers.  We  can  not  be  held  responsible  for  the 
kidnapping  of  their  maidens  by  lawless  brigands.  Also  we  can  offer  six 
of  our  Syracuse  maidens  for  those  stolen  by  the  brigands.  The  Athe 
nians  and  their  ship  can  not  remain  here  long  and  thus  without  bloody 
combat  or  loss  of  life,  can  we  secure  at  least  six  handsome,  god-gifted 
beauties.' 


Syracuse  283 

"Fellow  voyagers,"  continued  Theognis,  "this  is  all  I  can  say  in  re 
gard  to  the  matter."  (Great  applause.) 

Marstenes  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "I  have  proof,  fellow 
voyagers,  that  what  Theognis  says  is  true.  King  Heritoges  and  his 
nobles  sat  in  the  center  of  thousands  of  spectators  that  viewed  the 
dancing  from  the  long  rows  of  stone  seats  cut  out  of  the  hillside.  As 
the  wind  blew  the  words  in  the  direction  of  Theognis,  sitting  not  far 
from  the  King  and  nobles,  as  he  did,  he  could  hear  their  remarks  and 
conversation  plainly.  At  the  close  of  the  dance,  we  well  know  Ven- 
norteus,  one  of  the  nobles,  in  behalf  of  the  King,  invited  us  to  the 
banquet  board.  The  King,  nobles  and  many  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  populace  descended  from  their  stone  seats  to  partake  of  the  ban 
quet.  Theognis  also  left  his  seat  and  came  directly  to  me  and  related 
the  remarks  and  conversation  he  had  heard,  the  same  as  just  given 
by  him  here.  He  also,  at  my  order,  informed  Hypnothoon  and 
Rosania. 

"We  four  held  a  short  conference  and  it  was  decided  that  Hypno 
thoon  should,  at  the  banquet,  say  that  it  was  the  wish,  especially  of 
our  maidens,  to  return  to  the  ship  to  enjoy  a  much  needed  bath  in  the 
bay  so  as  to  refresh  and  invigorate  themselves  for  the  coming  two  days' 
feast  and  also  to  invite  the  Syracuseans  to  take  part  in  aquatic  contests, 
such  as  swimming,  rowing  and  the  like.  You  remember  that  in  quite 
an  abrupt  manner,  you  were  ordered  to  fall  in  line  to  march  back  to  the 
ship.  Just  before  the  banquet  took  place  it  was  that  we  were  apprised 
by  Theognis  of  the  scheme  of  the  Syracuseans,  namely :  that  the  King 
and  his  nobles  had  agreed  upon  a  plan  to  have  at  least  six  of  our 
maidens  remain  in  Syracuse  and  that  the  King  and  nobles  had  decided 
that  at  the  banquet,  in  his  name,  the  Athenians,  men  and  maidens, 
should  be  invited  to  take  part  in  the  grand  hunt  in  the  near  mountain 
sides  and  in  the  valley  forests.  Fellow  voyagers,  we  all  heard  Kid- 
napdeus  extending  the  King's  invitation  to  us  to  take  part  in  that 
grand  hunt  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  morning  of  the  third  festal 
day.  The  invitation  was  extended  to  us  at  the  banquet,  just  as  Theog 
nis  had  heard  them  plan  it  and  as  he  had  informed  us  it  would  be. 
That  was  the  proof  of  the  correctness  of  Theognis'  discovery.  The 
chariots  in  the  forest  would  be  taken  from  their  driver  by  nobles  garbed 
as  brigands,  who  would  force  at  least  six  of  our  maidens  into  the  char 
iots  and  would  drive  hot  haste  to  distant  haunts.  Thus  would  King 
Heritoges  and  nobles  and  the  Syracuse  populace  stand  forth  as  inno 
cents,  as  it  also  was  planned  that  they  would  make  a  great  show  and 
strenuous  efforts  in  aiding  us  to  regain  our  kidnapped  maidens.  If  we 
had  not  been  forewarned  by  Theognis,  what  would  have  taken  place, 
and  how  would  it  all  have  ended?  Let  us  dismiss  such  tnoughts  from 


284  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

our  minds.  Thankfully  can  we  say  the  Gods  look  down  upon  us  with 
great  favor." 

Charmione  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers, 
it  is  certain  that  the  Syracuseans  could  never  have  carried  out  their 
schemes  fully,  for  each  of  us  maidens  would  have  fought  unto  death 
before  permitting  ourselves  to  be  captured  alive.  Also,  I  am  asked  to 
say  by  all  our  maiden  voyagers :  never  again  will  we  go  to  the  banquet 
board  with  strangers  as  our  escorts  at  future  landings,  however  noble 
they  may  pretend  to  be.  We  have  reasons  which  we  need  not  state. 
All  of  us  maidens  extend  our  thanks  to  those  who  have  planned  to  save 
our  lives;  especially  thankful  are  we  to  Theognis;  endlessly  thankful 
are  we  to  the  wise  favorably  inclined  blue-eyed  Goddess  Minerva,  for 
say  the  wise,  'Behind  every  good  thought,  word  or  deed,  standeth  some 
god." 

Timocles  speaking  from  the  rostrum  said:  "Fellow  Commercialists ! 
The  small  town  called  Syracuse  is,  as  yet,  not  claimed  as  a  colony  by 
even  the  Phoenicians.  Therefore,  on  our  second  voyage  we  Athenians, 
with  a  force  of  warriors,  ought  to  establish  a  colony  there ;  or  in  not 
many  moons  a  colony  may  be  founded  at  Syracuse  by  Corinth." 

All  sided  with  Timocles  that  the  ship's  future  voyages  should  not  be 
strictly  voyages  of  peace,  but  voyages  to  establish  trade  and  colonies,  by 
force,  if  necessary. 


CHAPTEK  XII 


SAILING   WEST  FROM  SYRACUSE 

Strabo  of  the  Landing  Committee  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said : 
"Fellow  Sea  Rovers,  Captain  Arteus  and  your  landing  committee  have 
agreed  that  the  ship  should  stop  at  as  few  landing  places  as  possible,  so 
as  to  reach  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  and  thence  return  to  Athens  in  the 
shortest  number  of  days  possible.  Capital  Arteus  says  that  he  believes 
that  on  the  shores  over  the  sea,  to  the  south,  lies  the  growing  deter 
mined  Phoenician  city  of  Carthage. 

"Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  the  ship  to  be  headed  in  a  northwest 
direction,  which,  according  to  information  which  he  received  from  a 
Phoenician  source,  will  in  an  unknown  number  of  days,  bring  us  to  a 
large  island  called  Caralis  ( Sardinia ) ." 

Resignatis,  whom  her  fellow  voyagers  have  nicknamed  the 
Cassandra  of  the  ship,  on  account  of  her  predictions  that  the  ship 
would  never  return  again  to  its  native  shores,  ascended  the  rostrum  and 
said: 

"Fellow  voyagers,  Strabo  has  just  spoken  and  his  words  indicate  that 
he  is  wholly  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  our  ship  will  never  again 
return  to  our  native  Athens.  You  have  named  me  Cassandra,  because 
you  say  I  am  the  only  one  that  predicts  evil.  I  feel  deeply ;  feel  that  it 
would  be  wrong  if  I  did  not  state  that  which  the  Fates  have  made  known 
to  me,  namely :  that  our  ship  and  all  its  voyagers,  Captain  and  seamen 
will  never  again  return  to  Athens." 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  asked  Resignatis,  "Are  you  a  proph 
etess?" 

She  replied:  "I  have  never  desired  to  be  a  prophetess;  but  I  feel 
and  I  know  that  our  ship  will  never  again  return  to  Athens.  It  will  sail 
away  farther  and  farther,  but  never  again  will  it  return  to  our  Hel 
lenic  shore." 

I  feel,  I  know,  the  Fates  ordain 
We  never  shall  return  again. 

Another  voyager  asked :  "If  we  are  not  to  return,  what  will  become 
of  us?" 

She  replied :  "I  can  not  tell.  I  do  not  know  any  more  than  you  do. 
I  only  know  that  we  will  never  again  return  to  Athens." 

285 


286  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Another  voyager  asked :  "Will  our  ship  be  overwhelmed  by  the  sea ; 
dashed  against  rocky  shores?  Stolen  by  pirates,  or  what?" 

She  answered:  "As  I  said  before,  I  do  not  know,  I  only  know  that 
we  will  never  again  return  to  Athens." 

One  of  the  maidens  asked:  "Resignatis,  if  you  really  believe  what 
you  say,  how  is  it  that  you  are  enjoying  yourself  just  as  greatly  as  we 
do?" 

She  replied:  "Why  should  I  not?  We  can  do  nothing  against  the 
will  of  the  Fates.  We  all  know  that  we  must  die  some  time;  but  do 
we  on  that  account  refrain  from  enjoying  ourselves?  I  have  and  I 
am  going  to  enjoy  myself  all  I  can,  as  occasions  present  themselves  on 
our  voyage,  just  because  of  our  shortness  of  time,  perhaps.  Truly  we 
should  enjoy  ourselves  while  yet  we  may,  for  when  we  open  the  door 
that  passes  into  tomorrow,  who  knows  what  we  may  experience  on  that 
side  of  the  partition?" 

Polybus  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  sea-rovers,  you 
all  look  upon  Resignatis'  or  Cassandra  (as  you  more  correctly  have 
named  her)  predictions  lightly,  but  I  will  only  say : 

She  carries  Sybils  in  her  mind. 
They  are  a  far  more  subtle  kind 
Than  those  on  plastic  art  are  wrought 
A  God-like  inspiration,  thought. 

One  of  the  other  maidens  spoke  up  and  said:  Resignatis,  when 
I  happened  to  bounce  upon  you,  sitting  alone,  the  other  evening,  I 
found  you  looking  very,  very  sad." 

"Yes,  that  is  true.  I  felt  sad  for  a  short  time  only,  because  I  was 
thinking  how  often,  oh  how  often,  those  who  are  dear  to  us  at  Athens 
and  to  whom  we  are  dear,  too,  will  again  and  again  wander  to  the  sea 
shore  or  up  to  the  Acropolis  to  look  out  over  the  blue  sea  with  the  hope 
of  sighting  their  great  ship  Aeolus  on  its  triumphal  return.  Yes,  I  felt 
sad  at  the  thought  of  how  often,  how  often  our  dear  Athenians  will 
look  for  the  ship  that  never  will  return.  For  many  moons  will  they 
watch  and  look  for  our  return  until  the  certainty  of  our  not  returning 
grows  stronger  and  stronger,  their  watching  and  sighting  on  the  sea 
shore  and  on  the  Acropolis  less  and  less;  until  our  grand  ship  and  its 
voyagers  will  pass  from  the  memory  of  man  into  everlasting  oblivion. 
Yes,  I  was  sad  as  those  thoughts  ran  through  my  brain.  But  only  for  a 
very  short  time;  for  my  reason  told  me  that  my  sadness  would  avail 
them  nothing.  Our  Athenians  are  no  cowards  or  weaklings,  and  know 
as  well  as  we  do  that  all  things  are  according  to  the  decrees  of  unalter 
able  Fate.  Fellow  Voyagers,  never  again  will  anyone  find  me  looking 
sad,  nor,  I  hope,  find  anyone  else  looking  sad.  Fellow  voyagers,  I  never 
again  will  refer  to  what  the  Fates  have  decreed ; 


Sailing  West  from  Syracuse  287 

But,  while  yet  we  may, 
Let's  all,  every  day, 
Enjoy  and  be  gay. 

Optimitos,  one  of  the  men  voyagers,  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and 
said:  "Fellow  Voyagers,  Resignatis  is  happy;  we  are  happy;  all 
are  happy,  and  our  grand  ship  is  sailing  proudly  onward  with  all  signs 
presaging  a  propitious  voyage."  (Applause.) 

The  voyagers  are  passing  time  by  engaging  in  throwing  the  discus. 
We  are  sailing  along  the  southwest  shore  of  Sicily  with  a  northerly 
breeze,  all  sails  set,  cutting  the  liquid  blue  with  foaming  speed.  We  are 
now  passing  the  west  end  of  Sicily,  out  of  sight  of  all  land. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


TAKING  BAPTISM  OF  THE  SEA 

The  north  wind  has  increased  and  the  surging  billows  are  running 
high.  Initioteus,  one  of  the  voyagers,  has  ascended  the  rostrum  and 
says:  "Fellow  voyagers,  Hilicarus  has  informed  me  that  it  has  been 
discovered  that  one  of  our  sailors  has  never  received  the  seaman's  bap 
tism  of  the  sea.  On  all  Phoenician  ships  sailors  are  required  to  un 
dergo  the  baptism  of  the  sea,  which  must  take  place  on  the  first  oppor 
tunity  of  high  rolling  billows.  The  mountain-high  billows  that  the  north 
wind  is  now  rolling  forth  with  valleys  in  between,  provide  a  good  op 
portunity  at  the  present  time  for  the  sailor  to  take  this  baptism  which, 
both  for  his  own  good  and  that  of  our  ship,  it  is  of  the  utmost  im 
portance  that  he  receive  as  soon  as  possible.  The  sailor  will,  at  the 
bow  of  the  ship,  stand  on  the  lower  rope  that  leads  diagonally  to  the 
bowsprit  and  with  outspread  arms,  holds  himself  by  the  ropes  that  run 
up  to  the  bowsprit  at  his  sides.  When  the  ship  dashes  into  the  large, 
Burgiag  billows,  he  will  be  out  of  sight,  under  the  water,  and  when  the 
ship  rises  again,  he  will  reappear  to  view  on  the  bow  above  the  water. 
Thus,  standing  at  the  ship's  prow  must  he  pass  beneath  and  through 
three  billows. 

"He  then  climbs  on  deck  again  and  is  then  presented  with  a  small, 
neat,  lustrous  conch  shell,  signifying  that  he  has  received  the  baptism 
of  the  sea  and  that  he  is  recognized  as  a  full  seaman.  The  baptism  of 
the  sea  indicates  a  liking  for  the  sea,  a  friendly  feeling  towards  the 
elements  over  which  Neptune  holds  sway,  and  as  it  is  in  honor  of  Nep 
tune,  it  makes  a  propitious  voyage  more  likely." 

The  sailor  climbed  down  the  bow,  watched  until  the  ship  had  risen 
its  highest  out  of  the  water,  then  quickly  slid  down,  standing  with  his 
feet  on  the  lowest  bowsprit  stay-rope,  held  himself  on  the  side  ropes  and 
then  plunged  with  the  ship  into  and  through  the  long,  high,  surging 
billow.  Thus,  deep  below  the  billows,  he  dashed  three  times,  climbed 
on  deck  again,  where,  amidst  the  applause  of  his  fellow  seamen,  Cap 
tain  Arteus  presented  to  him  a  small,  brilliant  conch  shell  as  a  certifi 
cate  of  full  seamanship. 

Initioteus  continued:  "Fellow  voyagers,  Captain  Arteus  says  that 
no  burden  will  he  carry  as  to  voyagers  taking  the  baptism  of  the  sea, 
but  will  leave  that  to  the  Committee  of  Rules  and  Order  and  to 

288 


Taking  Baptism  of  the  Sea  289 

every  voyager  himself.  He  suggests  to  make  no  hurried  decision,  col 
lectively  or  individually.  We  are  commercial  seamen  and  on  such  a 
long  voyage  we  want  to  be  in  harmony  with  the  custom  of  the  sea ;  so 
say  all  of  us  voyagers,  especially  do  we  in  every  way  wish  to  honor 
Neptune,  therefore  have  all  of  us  men  voyagers  determined  upon  receiv 
ing  the  baptism  of  the  sea." 

Rothia  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers, 
I  have  been  appointed  to  say  that  we  accompanied  this  commercial  voy 
age  with  the  understanding  that  wherever  the  ship  sailed  we  sail; 
wherever  the  ship  lands,  we  laud;  whatever  you'll  do,  we'll  do;  what 
ever  you'll  dare,  we'll  dare.  Your  danger  shall  be  our  danger ;  your 
fate,  our  fate.  And  now,  fellow  men  voyagers,  it  seems  we  maidens  are 
to  be  the  only  ones  on  the  ship  who  are  not  to  be  baptized,  and  are  not 
to  receive  the  baptism  of  the  sea,  and,  perhaps,  therefore,  be  the  cause 
of  an  unpropitious  voyage.  At  this  moment  let  our  silence  speak 
stronger  than  any  words  we  could  utter." 

Scriborites:  After  a  general  conference  with  the  Committee  of 
Rules  and  Order,  and  also  with  Captain  Arteus,  Initioteus  said  from  the 
rostrum:  "Fellow  voyagers,  Captain  Arteus  has  suggested  that  if  all 
are  determined  to  receive  the  baptism  of  the  sea  the  men  should  pass 
under  three  waves  and  the  maiden  voyagers  under  one  wave.  Also 
shall  a  seaman  be  stationed  out  on  the  end  of  the  bowsprit." 

The  men  voyagers  in  scanty  attire  singly  took  the  baptism  of  the 
sea,  dashing  with  the  grand  ship  through  the  huge  billows  three  times, 
climbing  over  the  ship's  bow  again  in  their  water-dripping  plight. 

Next  each  maiden  scantily  attired  in  a  white  sheet,  with  a  hole 
for  the  head  and  holes  to  pass  the  arms  through,  slid  down  and 
with  feet  on  the  lowest  rope,  dashed  far  under  and  through  one  billow. 
Each  climbed  over  the  ship's  bow  on  deck  again,  looking,  with  their 
white  water  dripping  sheets  and  heavy,  loose-flowing  hair,  like  beauti 
ful  mermaids  just  come  out  of  the  sea. 

All  passed  along  smoothly  until  the  last  maiden,  as  the  Fates  would 
have  it,  was  swept  away  into  the  sea  by  the  fearful  power  of  an  extra 
huge,  surging  billow.  The  seaman  who,  through  Captain  Arteus'  orders, 
was  out  on  the  end  of  the  bowsprit,  raised  his  arm,  which  signal  was 
understood  by  the  seamen  standing  on  opposite  sides  of  the  ship,  who 
immediately  threw  a  small  cedar  raft  overboard  on  their  respective 
sides.  Two  of  our  men  voyagers  immediately  jumped  overboard  into 
the  sea  from  the  same  side  of  the  ship.  Captain  Arteus  shouted  that 
none  should  jump  into  the  sea,  and  thus  kept  others  back  who  also  were 
ready  to  jump  to  the  maiden's  rescue.  A  boat  was  launched  but  the 
high  seas  filled  it  with  water.  The  ship  was  sailing  forward  with  a 
great  speed. 

Captain  Arteus  gave  orders  to  lower  some  of  the  sails.    On  looking 


290  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

back,  our  two  men  voyagers  could  be  seen  when  raised  by  the  billows, 
clinging  to  one  of  the  rafts.  Still  further  back  among  the  surging  seas 
only  a  head  was  visible  on  the  water,  then  again  sank  out  of  sight,  and 
nothing  but  the  surging  sea  was  visible  to  the  moistened  eyes  on  deck, 
until  raised  by  another  billow ;  Flotonia's  head,  with  face  turned 
from  the  ship,  came  to  view  again. 

"She  is  still  swimming!  She  is  still  swimming!  She  is  still  swim 
ming!"  rang  through  the  terrible  excited  voyagers.  The  men  voyagers 
had  been  making  and  now  lowered  into  the  sea  a  larger  floating  raft. 
Three  of  them  jumped  into  the  sea  and  swam  to  it.  They  could  not 
make  any  headway  against  the  large  waves  with  the  raft. 

Flotonia's  head  in  the  distance  still  comes  and  goes  out  of 
sight  with  the  rising  and  falling  of  the  powerful  billows.  "She  is  still 
swimming!  She  is  still  swimming!  Oh,  save  her!"  were  the  words 
that  came  from  the  voyagers,  as  her  head  arose  in  sight  above  the 
billows. 

Captain  Arteus  shouted:  "Haul  up  the  largest  rainbow  flag."  It 
will  show  that  we  are  doing  our  best  and  will  lend  hope.  "She  is  still 
swimming !  Oh,  she  is  still  swimming !  Oh,  save  her !  Oh,  save  her !" 
came  with  hopeless,  saddened  speech  from  the  voyagers. 

The  watch  on  the  mast  calls  down,  "She  is  swimming  toward  the 
small  raft." 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  has  lit  the  incense  on  the  tripod  and  is 
praying  to  Neptune  for  her  rescue. 

The  watch  on  the  mast  calls  down,  "She  has  reached  the  small  raft ! 
She  is  clinging  to  the  raft." 

A  subdued  feeling  of  exultation  greeted  his  announcement.  "Hoist 
up  all  the  rainbow  flags,"  shouted  Captain  Arteus.  Captain  Arteus  went 
up  a  short  distance  on  the  main  mast  and  shouted  to  the  helmsman  how 
to  steer.  Hilicarus  was  given  orders  to  have  several  more  sails  low 
ered. 

Flotonia  can  now  be  plainly  seen  hang-ing  onto  the  raft.  She 
has  several  times  waved  with  her  hand.  Hope  runs  high  on  our  ship 
again.  "She  is  going  to  be  saved,"  resounded  on  all  sides. 

The  ship  is  sailing  very  slowly  towards  her  over  the  high,  surging 
billows.  Within  hearing  distance  the  maiden  and  men  voyagers  shout 
out  towards  the  sea  :  "Hang  on !  Hang  on !  You  are  going  to  be  saved !" 

The  ship  is  now  very  close  to  her. 

Marstenes  with  a  light  rope  fastened  around  his  body  under  the 
arms  jumped  into  the  sea  and  swam  close  to  the  raft.  He  assisted 
Flotonia  onto  the  raft,  which  is  pulled  alongside  the  ship,  and  Flo 
tonia  is  hauled  on  deck,  saved,  amid  cheerful  rejoicing  of  her  fellow 
voyagers. 

Flotonia  didn't  want  to  go  below  deck  to  her  quarters,  but  in- 


Taking  Baptism  of  the  Sea  291 

sisted  to  take  a  rest  at  the  bow  of  the  ship.  Now  the  watchman  on  the 
niast  called  down  the  whereabouts  of  those  men  voyagers  who  had 
jumped  into  the  sea  and  were  clinging  to  the  two  floating  rafts.  They 
were  all  soon  taken  on  deck  again  and  happiness  again  reigned  on  our 
ship. 

The  voyagers  again  donned  their  regular  attire  in  place  of  the  scanty 
white  baptisimal  sheet,  excepting  Flotonia,  who  unexpectedly,  with 
great  alertness,  passed  over  the  bow  of  the  ship,  slid  down,  stood  with 
her  feet  on  the  lowest  rope  again,  and  as  the  great  ship  plunged  into 
a  high,  rising  billow,  passed  along  under  it,  and  at  the  ship's  next 
rising,  climbed  back  over  the  ship's  bow  on  deck  again,  and  ran,  with 
her  heavy  brown  hair  almost  covering  her  face  and  water  dripping  from 
her  white  sheet,  up  to  the  rostrum,  and  said :  "Fellow  voyagers !  Many 
are  my  thanks  to  you  for  my  rescue,  also  endless  will  be  my  thanks 
to  our  gods  for  my  rescue.  I  would  have  swam  and  reached  the  raft 
sooner  but  often  the  sea  washed  my  hair  over  my  face  so  that  at  times 
I  couldn't  see  until  I  swam  and  turned  so  the  sea  washed  it  back  away 
from  my  face  again.  Once,  on  turning  around,  I  saw  the  rainbow  flag 
waving  from  the  ship's  mast.  That  told  me  I  was  not  forgotten.  The 
reason  I  was  swept  from  the  bow  of  the  ship  was  because  I  mis 
judged  the  sea's  fearful  power.  I  did  not  hold  on  with  sufficient 
strength.  Now,  fellow  voyagers!  I  didn't  want  to  be  the  fault  of  hin 
dering  our  ship  from  having  a  propitious  voyage,  because  of  my  not 
having  received  the  baptism  of  the  sea.  Fellow  voyagers,  now,  each 
and  every  one  on  the  ship  has  in  honor  of  Neptune  and  the  welfare  of 
our  great  ship  received  the  baptism  of  the  sea." 

Captain  Arteus,  stepping  up  to  a  number  of  voyagers,  said:  "Noble 
Four  Hundred  of  Athens :  It  is  the  Spartan- Athenian  training  that  has 
made  you  what  you  are,  pleasing  in  every  way  for  the  eyes  of  the  gods 
and  man  to  look  upon." 

Graphitus,  one  of  our  fellow  voyager  artists,  ascended  the  rostrum 
and  said:  "The  baptism  of  the  sea  is,  with  such  high,  heavy  billows, 
a  shuddering  sight  to  behold.  Sitting  out  near  the  end  of  the  ship's 
bowsprit,  tied  by  a  seaman,  so  I  could  use  my  hands  to  sketch  the  bap 
tismal  scene,  one  felt  almost  to  a  certainty,  in  each  instance,  that  the 
maiden  would  not  come  to  sight  again  upon  the  ship's  next  rising.  Down 
the  bow  would  go  until  the  water  would  reach  up  under  the  arms  and 
then  came  the  powerful,  high,  hissing,  rising  billow,  under  and  through 
which  the  maiden  must  pass.  A  great  suspense  fell  from  my  heart  at 
the  end  of  each  baptism,  as  I  saw  the  heavy,  flowing  hair  arising  in  a 
confused  mass  out  of  the  water.  Would  that  a  better  artist  than  I  had 
been  in  my  position.  A  more  beautiful  picture  would  be  impossible  to 
sketch.  First,  a  maiden  with  a  wealth  of  hair,  clad  in  a  white  sheet, 
with  holes  for  head  and  arms,  standing  with  bare  feet  on  the  lower 


292  The  Original  Four  Hundred^ 

bowsprit  stay  rope,  with  outstretched  arms,  holding  herself  to  the  rope 
on  each  side,  with  head  erect,  behind  which  hung  long,  flowing  hair, 
truly  a  more  majestic  figure  would  be  impossible  to  imagine.  The  ship 
would  sink  down  and  then  the  high,  onrushing,  angry  billow  followed 
as  if  determined  to  sweep  all  before  it.  But  equally,  in  all  her  majesty, 
arises  the  maiden  with  the  ship — the  maddening  billow  passes  on.  Also 
like  a  most  beautiful  mermaid  stood  each  of  our  maidens  at  the  ship's 
bow,  as  the  ship  arose  out  of  the  dark,  blue,  heaving  billows!" 
"Fellow  maiden  voyagers,  I  have  drawn  sketches  of  your  baptism 
of  the  sea  and  if  I  get  time  on  our  voyage  I  will  present  to  each 
of  you  a  picture  of  yourself."  (Applause.)  Now  one  of  the  men  voy 
agers  spoke  up  and  said:  "Graphitus!  Those  pictures  will  be  valued 
and  admired  more,  and  will  be  of  much  more  interest  to  us  men  than 
to  our  maidens." 

The  ship  is  sailing  with  all  sails  set  again  on  its  western  course.  The 
rainbow  flags  are  all  down.  No  land  in  sight.  Phoebus  is  setting  down 
at  the  west  side  of  the  world.  Anaxogerous,  night  scribe,  is  on  deck 
for  duty. 

Hilicarus,  second  ship's  officer,  says  Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  to 
sail  during  the  night  with  only  half  of  the  ship's  sails  set,  so  that  the 
ship  may  not  sail  past  land,  which  he  expects  to  sight  by  the  light  of 
the  next  rising  of  Phoebus.  The  vault  above  is  covered  with  dark 
clouds.  The  night  is  densely  dark. 

Hilicarus  says:  "We  do  not  know  directions  now,  but  allow  our 
selves  to  be  guided  by  the  direction  of  the  waves  and  wind,  believing 
that  it  is  still  north  wind. ' ' 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  has  come  on  deck,  and  in  the  dense  black 
ness  of  the  darkest  of  nights,  has  ascended  the  rostrum  and  lit  the 
incense  in  the  bronze  tripod  and  is  praying  to  the  gods. 


O,  fair  Diana  !  may  your  light, 

So  silvery  clear  and  wondrous  bright, 

Shine  down  on  Neptune's  liquid  realm 

So  that  the  steersman,  at  the  helm, 

May  guide  our  ship  from  dangers  free, 

And  O,  Phoenician  star!   to  thee 

We  also  pray  for  thy  true  light 

To  guide  us  safely  through  the  night. 

Slowly  onward  our  ship  is  sailing,  in  the  starless  darkness  of 
night.  Whether  east,  south,  north  or  west,  Hilicarus  says  we  cannot 
know  to  a  certainty,  but  let  us  believe  that  the  wind  is  still  from  the 
north  and  so  by  wind  and  the  motion  of  the  waves  we  believe  we  are 
sailing  west.  He  says  we  are  sailing  very  slowly,  so  at  daybreak  we 


A  Rhyming  Language  293 

will  not  be  too  far  from  anywhere.  In  the  vault  above  stray  stars  are 
now  and  then  to  be  seen.  Hilicarus  says:  "I  have  just  seen 
the  Phoenician  star  (North  Star)  through  a  rift  of  clouds."  The 
wind  is  still  north  and  we  are  sailing-  in  a  westerly  direc 
tion. 

Aurora's  first  dim  light  is  spreading  over  the  sea.  Phoebus  is  now 
arising  but  a  heavy,  gray  veil  covers  his  face.  Captain  Arteus  is  on 
deck.  The  watchman  in  the  mast  calls  down,  "Land  towards  the 
north."  Captain  Arteus  commands  the  helmsman  to  steer  in  that  di 
rection.  Polybus,  with  his  superior  god-gifted  vision,  has  been  ordered 
by  the  Captain  to  come  on  deck. 

Polybus  says :  "Yes,  it  is  land,  in  the  direction  in  which  our  ship  is 
sailing."  Captain  Arteus  commands  all  sails  to  be  hoisted;  also  the 
rainbow  flags.  All  voyagers  are  on  deck.  This  land  is  one  day's  sail 
ing  northwest  from  Sicily.  It  may  be  an  island.  We  cannot  tell.  Our 
ship  is  now  lying-  in  a  bay  close  to  shore.  The  Landing  Committee 
has  rowed  to  the  shore.  The  people  of  the  land  have  gathered  along 
the  shore;  there  is  a  small  town. 

Strabo,  of  the  Landing  Committee,  has  returned  on  the  ship  and 
says :  "There  would  be  no  object  to  remain  at  the  place  long,  and  if  the 
Committee  of  Commerce  would  go  on  land  they  would  soon  find  whether 
time  lost  here  would  be  profitable."  The  people  are  not  warlike.  The 
Committee  of  Commerce  also  goes  on  shore.  Several  of  the  traders  with 
our  Committee  of  Commerce  have  come  on  the  ship.  The  traders  are 
shown  the  merchandise  that  our  ship  has  for  barter  and  exhibition. 
Our  Committee  of  Commerce  and  the  traders  are  returning  back  to  land. 
A  quantity  of  our  ship's  wares  have  been  transported  to  shore,  for 
which  our  Committee  will  select  wares  from  among  those  of  the  strange 
people.  After  a  short  stay  our  Committee  of  Commerce  and  Landing  has 
again  arrived  on  the  ship.  The  people  on  the  shore  are  slinging  large 
stones  on  our  ship.  Marstenes  has  placed  two  of  our  ship's  large  cata 
pults  in  working  order  and  has  them  pointed  to  a  stretch  of  land  from 
which  the  slingers  directed  stones  towards  our  ship.  The  slingers  have 
in  the  face  of  our  large  catapults,  which  can  shoot  many  stones  and  arrows 
at  a  time,  walked  back  to  a  far  greater  distance  from  the  ship.  The 
Committee  of  Commerce  reports  that  the  merchandise  of  those  people 
is  not  worth  landing  for. 

Theognis  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers!  The 
language  these  people  speak  is  very  hard  to  interpret.  The  name  of 
the  land  (island,  I  believe,)  is  Caralis  (Sardina).  The  people  are 
gathering  in  greater  and  greater  numbers,  which  shows  that  the  peo 
ple  live  mostly  inland.  They  are  not  warlike,  and  they  wear  their  hair 
long.  They  speak  a  very  soft,  musical  sounding  language.  Their  lan 
guage  is  strikingly  peculiar.  I  at  once  heard  that  they  continually 


294  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

spoke  in  rhyme.  I  first  noticed  it  in  short  sentences.  They  never 
talk  without  having  two  sentences  end  in  a  common  rhyme." 

One  of  our  voyagers  spoke  up  and  said:  "Then  they  must  all  be 
poets."  Theognis  replied:  "Yes,  each  one  is  a  poet,  but  very  likely 
doesn't  know  it.  The  more  I  listened  to  them  the  more  musical  their 
language  sounded.  The  language  sounded  something  like  subdued  sing 
ing.  Even  their  exclamations  are  followed  by  a  second  exclamation  to 
rhyme.  In  their  short  sentences  the  rhyme  is  most  striking  and  first 
noticeable.  At  times,  on  hearing  them  talk,  it  reminded  me  of  our  ship 
when  one  sees  the  rising  and  falling  of  the  wave,  for  they  seem  to 
speak  in  a  sing-song,  flowing  manner.  But  whether  short  or  long  sen 
tences,  all  end  with  a  rhyme.  They  use  more  words  than  any  other 
language  I  ever  heard;  for  their  language  requires  them  to  keep  on 
talking  until  it  rhymes.  Their  accents  are  not  all  on  the  same  order,  but 
always  are  their  rising  and  falling  inflections  musical.  Although  one 
cannot  understand  their  language,  it  is  agreeble  for  the  ear  to  listen  to. 
When  listening  to  a  long  conversation  between  them  one  expects  that 
they  will  fail  to  rhyme;  but,  no,  the  rhyme  comes  in  very  agreeably 
somewhere.  Rhyming  seems  to  come  so  natural  with  them  that  it 
would  require  a  great  deal  of  effort  on  their  part  to  express  themselves 
in  any  other  fashion.  Their  whole  language  is  in  agreeably  rhymed 
verse;  not  in  one  kind  of  verse,  it  seems,  but  in  many  different  kinds, 
suitable  to  the  different  kinds  of  conversation.  The  children  talk  in 
rhyme  as  well  as  their  elders. 

"Fellow  voyagers,  as  an  interpreter  of  spoken  and  gesture  language, 
the  highly  musical  rhyming  language  of  these  people  is  naturally  very 
interesting  to  me.  It  is  said  on  the  ship  that  we  cannot  be  far  from 
the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  which  is  our,  or  any  other  ship's,  furtherest 
western  destination. 

"Fellow  voyagers !  I  would  like  the  privilege  of  staying  among  these 
people  and  study  their  peculiar  rhyming  language  and,  landing  here 
again  upon  your  homeward  voyage,  I  would  again  join  you." 

After  a  short  interval  of  time  Hypnothoon  spoke  up  to  Theognis  and 
said :  "I  am  to  say  that  the  object  of  this  voyage  is  not  for  the  sake 
of  poetry  or  musical  language,  but  the  alpha  and  omega  of  the  voyage 
is  Commerce,  and  only  Commerce." 

The  rainbow  flags  have  all  been  hauled  down  and  our  ship  is  leav 
ing  the  bay  for  the  wide  open  sea  in  a  southerly  direction.  The  ship 
has  now  changed  its  course  to  a  westerly  direction.  The  wind  has 
changed  to  the  south.  It  is  gaining  in  strength.  Phoebus  has  set  in 
the  west.  Anaxogerous  is  here  for  the  night. 


CHAPTEK  XIV 


PIRATE'S  ISLAND 

Many  of  the  ship's  sails  are  being  lowered.  During  the  whole  night 
our  ship  has  only  a  few  sails  set;  she  has  been  slowly  sailing  on  a 
westerly  course.  Aurora  is  illuminating  the  eastern  sky.  Scriborites, 
the  day  scribe,  is  on  deck  again. 

Scriborites:  No  land  in  sight.  The  warm,  south  wind  is  blowing 
a  good  gale.  The  outlook  from  the  mast  is  calling  down,  "Land! 
Land!"  Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  Polybus,  the  magician,  to  scan 
the  waters.  Polybus  points  out  where  the  land  is  coming  to  sight.  All 
the  voyagers  are  on  deck.  Captain  Arteus  has  ordered  the  hoisting  of 
several  more  sails.  Land  is  now  in  plain  view.  Our  ship  is  now  sail 
ing  into  a  bay  on  the  east  side  of  an  island.  The  ship's  large  stone 
anchors  have  been  lowered  to  the  bottom.  The  ship  is  now  lying  near 
the  shore.  In  the  bay,  further  inland,  can  be  seen  many  small  row 
boats.  There  are  only  a  few  people  to  be  seen.  The  Landing  Commit 
tee,  Terrafirma,  Strabo,  Fatallus,  Greetus  and  Theognis,  have  gone  on 
shore.  The  ship's  rainbow  flags  have  been  hoisted.  There  is  no  town 
near  the  seaside.  The  people  seem  to  be  friendly.  One  of  the  many 
boats  is  rowing  around  our  ship.  Rosania,  commander  of  the 
ship's  maidens,  who  has  just  come  down  from  the  masts,  says  there 
are  hundreds  of  small  ships  further  up  the  bay,  and  that  there  must 
be  many  more  people  on  the  island  than  we  have  so  far  seen.  The 
sand  time  measure  has  been  turned  four  times,  and  yet  the  Landing 
Committee  has  not  returned  to  the  ship.  The  outlook  on  the  mast 
cannot  espy  any  of  them.  Marstenes,  according  to  the  ship's  rules,  has 
passed  over  the  ship's  floating  wharf  to  the  shore  with  a  strong  force 
of  warrior  voyagers,  spearmen  and  bowmen.  All  are  clad  in  heavy 
coats  of  mail  and  well  equipped  for  battle.  Marstenes  and  his  warriors 
have  marched  inland  and  are  out  of  view.  A  large  number  of  small 
and  large  boats,  with  many  men  in  battle  array,  issue  forth  from  a 
protected  bay  and  are  attacking  our  ship  with  slings  and  arrows. 

They  are  fierce  pirates,  some  of  whom  are  trying  to  board  our  ship, 
but  have  found  our  ship's  warriors  dealing  blows  that  sent  them  into 
the  sea,  dead  or  maimed.  This  island  proves  to  be  inhabited  by  pirates. 
Our  voyagers,  under  command  of  Marstenes,  are  returning  on  a  run 
ning  march.  They  have  arrived  at  our  shore  landing.  The  rainbow 

295 


296  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

flags  on  the  first  sighting  of  the  pirates  were  hauled  down  and  a  red 
battle  flag  hauled  up,  to  show  Marstenes  that  a  battle  was  on.  Mars- 
tenes'  forces  on  land  have  forced  the  pirates'  boats  away  from  the 
ship's  wharf.  The  land  force  is  on  ship  again.  Marstenes  and  several 
others  of  his  land  force  are  dangerously  wounded  and  have  been  car 
ried  on  the  run  to  our  ship.  The  pirates,  with  tarred  torches,  are  try 
ing  to  fire  our  ship.  Fireballs  are  also  beginning  to  fall  on  the  ship 
and  against  the  sails.  They  are  quickly  thrown  overboard  or  extin 
guished  by  the  seamen.  Captain  Arteus  orders  the  hoisting  of  all  sails. 
The  anchor  ropes  are  cut  and  our  ship,  with  a  fair  breeze,  is  sailing 
from  its  moorings  out  toward  the  open  sea.  While  our  ship  is  sailing 
along  the  bay  to  the  open  sea  the  ship's  rigging  and  masts  to  the  very 
tops  are  crowded  with  maiden  and  men  voyagers,  who  are  told  by  those 
who  have  been  on  land  to  look  to  the  right  and  behold  a  castle  some 
little  distance  inland.  The  red  flag  is  being  hauled  down.  Our  ship  is 
now  out  in  the  open  sea,  sailing  in  a  southerly  direction.  All  the  voy 
agers  have  come  down  from  the  masts.  Polybus,  the  ship's  magician, 
says  the  white  appearing  castle  seen  over  and  beyond  the  trees  in  the 
near  distance  is  covered  with  the  skulls  of  men.  At  first  sight  the 
white  castle  appears  pleasant  to  the  view ;  but  at  second  view,  he  says, 
it  being-  faced  on  all  sides  with  human  skulls,  it  impresses  one  quite 
differently. 

Captain  Arteus  orders  all  preparation  for  battle  removed  and  all 
things  are  placed  in  regular  order  again. 

Fatallus,  of  the  Landing  Committee,  ascended  the  ship's  rostrum 
and  said:  "Fellow  sea  rovers,  upon  landing  we  could  only  see  a  few 
persons  and  a  feeling  of  suspicion  crept  over  us  from  the  beginning. 
We  couldn't  understand  the  people's  speech.  But  they  understood  that 
we  wanted  to  know  where  the  town  was.  They  pointed  out  the  path 
and  walked  along  with  us,  at  the  same  time  blowing  a  bark  whistle. 
We  could  see  an  opening  among  the  trees  in  the  distance  and  a  long 
stone  wall.  Following  the  path  in  that  direction,  we  were  surprised  and 
surrounded  by  warriors,  and  taken  prisoners  and  put  in  a  small  stone 
hut  near  by.  Without  arms,  as  is  our  order  as  Landing  Committee,  we 
could  not  offer  resistance;  and  if  we  had  we  would  have  all  been 
killed,  for  we  were  outnumbered.  We  can  say  no  more  than  that  we 
were  released  from  our  dark  prison  by  our  fellow  warriors.  The  rest 
can  better  be  told  by  some  one  of  our  warriors." 

Ronoktades,  third  in  command  of  our  ship's  warriors,  spoke  from 
the  ship's  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  adventurers !  On  landing,  the 
people  all  kept  out  of  sight.  Marstenes  led  us  all  on  the  wide,  beaten 
path  inland  and  ordered  the  blowing  of  a  horn  at  intervals.  Seeing  a 
stone  hut  in  the  deep  forest  Marstenes,  with  a  part  of  our  force, 
inarched  up  to  it.  On  calling  aloud  if  there  was  anyone  inside,  he 


Pirate's  Island  297 

heard  the  shouts  of  our  Landing  Committee.  The  oaken  door  was 
broken  open,  and  they  were  released.  Following  the  wide,  beaten  path 
we  came  to  a  large  stronghold  with  high  stone  walls.  We  could 
see  no  gates.  It  is  a  large,  strong  fort.  Later  we  found  that  the 
entrance  to  the  fort  led  under  the  walls.  On  a  grassy  elevation,  near 
a  corner  of  the  fort,  stands  a  big  castle.  But  as  Polybus  has  rightly 
said,  "Its  outside  surface  is  entirely  covered  with  human  skulls." 

Our  force  marched  up  to  the  underground  gates  leading  to  the  in 
side  of  the  fort,  but  we  found  the  heavy,  oaken  doors  closed.  The  walls 
are  built  slanting  over  head.  All  was  silence.  Not  a  human  being  was 
to  be  seen  or  heard.  Marstenes,  in  the  lead,  we  marched  close  under 
the  wall  of  the  castle  to  view  the  same  as  closely  as  possible.  All  at 
once  from  several  openings  of  the  castle  many  arrows  and  very  sharp 
pointed  spears  darted  forth  into  our  ranks.  We  immediately  retreated 
beyond  reach  of  their  catapults,  carrying  our  wounded  along,  among 
whom  is  our  commander  Marstenes.  They  seemed  to  have  made  Mars 
tenes  their  main  target.  Although  dangerously  wounded  he  asked 
whether  we  could  not  effect  an  entrance  into  the  fort,  and  fight  them 
on  a  more  equal  footing. 

We  selected  the  best  possible  position  away  from  the  castle  and  by 
forming  a  human  pyramid,  four  men  high,  the  highest  could  see  a  force 
inside  of  the  fort  far  greater  than  ours  and  well  equipped  with  instru 
ments  of  war.  If  we  had  not  such  strong  coats  of  mail,  many  of  our 
force  would  have  been  killed  instead  of  wounded. 

It  was  decided  to  return  to  our  ship,  as  we  had  our  Landing  Com 
mittee  safe  with  us.  After  taking  a  good,  careful  look  at  the  large, 
ghastly  skull  castle  we  began  carrying  our  wounded  back  to  the  ship. 
After  having  proceeded  a  short  distance  they  came  after  us  in  a  run 
and  attacked  us  with  bows  and  arrows  and  spears.  Our  armor  is  much 
stronger  and  much  more  arrow,  stone,  club  and  lance-proof  than  their 
armor,  or  than  any  other  people's  armor. 

We  were  reminded  by  one  of  our  warriors  that  we  were  not  to  fight 
and  risk  our  lives  for  a  useless,  unprofitable  purpose,  against  unworthy 
foes;  so  we  fought  defending  ourselves  and  hurried  back  on  a  running 
march,  carrying  our  wounded  to  the  ship.  We  then  saw  another  large 
number  of  pirates  in  their  boats  trying  to  capture  our  ship.  They  were 
certainly  fierce  pirates,  and  their  home  is  in  the  stone  wall  near  a 
corner  on  a  slight  elevation  of  which  stands  the  stone  castle  completely 
faced  with  human  skulls. 

SKULL  CASTLE 

All  of  you  voyagers  have  seen  the  white  castle  in  a  distance  through 
the  tree  openings.  We  have  sailed  into  a  pirates'  bay— into  a  wasp's 
nest,  so  to  speak.  We  all  now  know  that  this  island  is  a  pirates'  home 


298  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  place  of  refuge.  We  will  ever  remember  it  as  Pirate  Island  and 
certainly  will  not  try  to  land  here  again.  Many  must  be  the  treasures 
stored  within  that  stone  wall  and  castle.  Truly  all  seamen  that  do 
not  return  to  their  homes  have  not  been  overwhelmed  by  the  sea,  but  as 
the  great  endless  number  of  skulls  show,  many  are  captured,  robbed 
and  killed  by  sea  pirates.  Great  wealth  must  the  pirates  possess. 

If  our  ship  had  not  been  so  large  it  would  have  been  easily  captured 
and  we  all  would  have  been  killed  like  those  of  the  other  stray  ships 
before  us,  and  our  skulls  would  have  been  added  to  serve  as  small  orna 
mental  parts  of  the  ghastly  skull  castle.  The  island  has  been  the  home 
of  pirates  for  endless  moons  as  the  castle  clearly  indicates.  The  tower 
is  the  principal  part  of  the  castle.  The  square  part  of  the  castle  is  also 
faced  with  skulls.  Also  a  new  addition  to  the  square  part  is  faced  with 
skulls  as  far  as  it  stands  finished.  They  will  not  likely  finish  that  new 
part  until  they  have  secured  enough  human  skulls  with  which  they  can 
face  the  new  addition.  It  must  have  taken  many  moons  to  secure  so 
many  skulls,  for  on  the  lower  part  they  are  much  darker  in  color  and 
look  older  than  those  higher  up.  There  is  no  space  between  the  skulls. 
They  all  extend  from  the  stone  wall  about  half  their  thickness.  From 
a  distance  the  skulls  in  their  regular  order  appear  like  very  fine  orna 
ments.  The  tower  and  all  the  balance  of  the  castle  looks  highly  orna 
mented.  The  white  tower  in  the  sunlight  looks  beautiful,  but  on  closer 
view  the  castle  looks  dreadful,  ghastly,  gruesome;  not  fit  for  human 
beings  to  inhabit.  Oh!  for  one  of  our  Athenian  bards  to  behold  when 
the  sun  is  in  the  zenith  or  at  night  in  the  silvery  light  of  the  moon! 
What  a  sight  those  myriads  of  eyes  have  beheld  in  life — of  beauty,  of 
sorrow,  of  tears.  What  sounds  have  resounded  in  those  ears — of  joy, 
of  mirth,  of  despair!  But,  O,  I  will  not  try  to  lead  our  thoughts  in 
such  dreadful  channels ;  and  let  us  all  not  allow  the  pirate  island  and  its 
castle  of  human  skulls  to  find  a  place  in  our  memory.  I  will  now  close 
my  report  with  a  wish  and  belief  that  Nemesis  will  mete  out  punish 
ment  to  the  pirates  of  Pirate  Island,  according  to  their  deserts." 

The  ship's  roll  call  shows  that  all  voyagers  are  on  the  ship  and  that 
the  wounded  can  also  come  on  deck  again  in  a  few  days.  Our  ship  is 
sailing  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  Phoebus  is  lowering  at  the 
western  end  of  the  world.  Surrounded  by  all  voyagers,  Orato,  Priest 
on  our  ship,  standing  on  the  rostrum,  says,  "O,  Zeus  and  all  the  Gods 
that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  with  joy  in  our  hearts,  we  thank  ye  that 
to  the  roll  call  after  the  fierce  battle  with  the  pirates,  every  one  of  our 
voyagers  has  been  able  to  answer  'Here;'  not  one  is  missing.  But,  O 
Gods,  all  are  still  with  us.  All  of  my  fellow  voyagers,  O  Zeus,  have 
asked  me,  your  humble  servant,  O  Zeus,  to  ascend  this  rostrum  before 
Phoebus  sets  in  the  west,  before  darkness  closes  this  blood-stained  day ; 
to  thank  you  as  the  incense  ascends  to  your  high  abode,  for  the  cloak 


Pirate's  Island  299 

of  protection  you  have  spread  over  us,  thus  bringing  the  vile  designs 
of  the  pirates  to  naught.  O  Zeus,  many  will  the  kinds  of  incense  be 
that  ascend  with  our  thanks  and  prayers  to  Thee  for  many  moons  to 
come ;  and  may  we  hope  that  the  exquisite  aroma  will  agreeably  per 
fume  the  high  Olympian  abode  of  the  Gods.  *  *  *  O  Ares  (Mars), 
God  of  War,  with  the  incense  arising  from  our  tripod  also  mingles  our 
thanks  and  prayers  to  Thee,  O  Mars.  For  Thou,  O  God  of  War,  in  the 
fierce  conflict  with  the  pirates  wert  favorable  to  our  side.  Without  Thy 
aid,  O  Mars,  our  fate  would  have  been  total  destruction.  Whatever 
strength,  valor,  dexterity,  strategy,  armor  or  weapons  we  possess,  with 
out  Thine  and  Zeus's  favor,  our  destruction  would  have  been  complete. 
May  the  incense  arising  be  also  as  sweet  savor  unto  Thee,  O  noble  God 
of  War." 

Phoebus  is  descending  at  the  west  side  of  the  world.  The  night 
scribe  is  on  deck. 

Anaxogerous :  The  stars  are  beginning  to  shine  brightly  in  the  vault 
above.  The  ship  is  sailing  in  a  southwest  direction.  The  warm  wind 
is  from  the  south.  We  are  out  of  sight  of  land.  What  a  great  contrast 
is  the  quiet,  mild-breezed  night  to  the  noise  and  tumult  of  the  death- 
battling  day.  The  outlook  on  the  mast  calls  down  "Land!  Land! 
Straight  ahead !"  Capt.  Arteus  has  been  called  on  deck.  He  has  given 
Hilicarus  orders  to  sail  slowly  along  its  coast  until  daybreak.  More 
than  half  of  the  ship's  sails  are  lowered.  Slowly  the  ship  is  sailing 
along  the  seemingly  distant  shores.  Aurora  heralds  the  first  signs  of 
coming  day.  Captain  Arteus  is  on  deck  again.  Smoke  is  arising  and 
houses  are  visible  on  the  shores  of  the  bay  that  opens  to  the  sea  on  the 
eouth.  Our  ship  is  now  lying  moored  by  stone  anchors  close  to  the 
shore.  All  the  voyagers,  excepting  those  wounded,  are  on  deck.  The 
day  scribe  is  on  deck  to  relieve  me. 

Scriborites:  Our  ship  is  lying  close  to  shore  in  the  bay,  surrounded 
by  beautiful  scenery.  A  small  town  is  close  to  the  bay.  Many  people, 
old  and  young,  are  on  the  shore  waving  green  twigs.  The  Landing  Com 
mittee  is  now  on  shore.  The  people  seem  to  greet  them  in  a  friendly 
spirit.  The  King's  castle,  it  seems  to  be,  stands  on  an  elevation  a  short 
distance  from  the  shore.  The  landing  committee  has  returned  to  our 
ship. 

Greetus,  of  the  landing  committee,  reports:  "Fellow  voyagers,  this 
land  is  an  island  called  'Balear.'  The  King  lives  in  yonder  castle. 
Theognis  made  known  to  him  by  gesture  mainly,  that  the  honey  we  pre 
sented  to  him  was  a  gift  from  the  voyagers  of  our  ship.  Also  the 
bronze  medal  of  our  ship  was  presented  to  him,  which  he  accepted  in  a 
friendly  manner.  He  invited  all  to  come  to  shore.  There  seems  to  be 
an  air  of  friendship  surrounding  the  town  and  its  people.  The  King 
and  his  nobles  accompanied  us  down  to  the  shore  where  some  of  the 


300  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

nobles  and  many  people  are  now  singing.  The  land  looks  like  a  para 
dise.  Oranges  and  all  kinds  of  fruits  are  bending  the  trees." 

Many  boats  in  the  bay  are  rowing  close  to  our  ship.  Many  maidens 
also  are  on  the  shore  and  are  holding  flowers  in  their  hands.  The  men 
voyagers,  under  command  of  Baldoridus  and  maidens  under  command 
of  Rosania,  are  now  marching-  up  to  the  King's  castle,  headed  by 
the  voyagers'  musicians.  The  King's  nobles  and  warriors  are  also  fol 
lowing  in  marching  order.  The  large  force  of  Island  warriors  is  stand 
ing  in  military  order  in  front  of  the  stone  castle.  The  town  on  all  sides, 
excepting  on  the  sea  side,  is  surrounded  by  stone  walls.  The  castle  it 
self  is  also  surrounded  by  a  moat  and  stone  walls. 

The  King,  whose  name  Theognis  says  is  Pamar,  has  invited  the  com 
mander  of  our  forces  and  fifty  of  our  voyagers  to  visit  him  in  the  castle 
walls.  The  object  of  our  voyage,  commerce  and  friendship  and  peace 
with  distant  lands  has  been  explained  to  him.  Theognis  says  the  King 
is  pleased  with  our  visit  and  wonders  at  our  grand  ship.  The  rainbow 
flags  also  seemed  to  delight  him. 

The  Committee  on  Commerce  says  there  is  no  use  in  remaining  here 
at  this  island  on  account  of  commerce. 

Romonites,  addressing  the  King,  said:  "Noble  King  Pamar!  We 
feel  that  it  is  a  privilege  of  the  gods  accorded  to  us  even  if  only  for  a 
short  while  to  sojourn  in  your  land — &  land  with  beautiful  mountains, 
valleys  and  forests,  lakes  and  streams ;  where  the  air  is  ever  perfumed 
with  musk  and  the  waters  of  the  brooks  are  of  the  essence  of  roses. 
Long  is  our  journey  and  short  must  be  our  stay  at  all  landings.  There 
fore,  we  must  now  return  to  our  ship.  King  Pamar,  whoever  lands  on 
your  beautiful  shore  cannot  leave  it  without  deep  regret.  Our  short 
sojourn  here,  where  not  only  nature  smiles,  but  where  also  joy  and 
mirth  and  good  cheer  prevail  among  young  and  old  will  ever  be  kept  in 
pleasant  remembrance." 

The  roll  call  showed  that  all  were  on  board  again.  Our  ship  is  now 
slowly  sailing  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  Anaxogerous  is  on  deck. 
Hilicarus  says :  "The  fires  on  the  land  aid  us  in  knowing  directions." 

Only  gentle  billows  are  ruffling  the  sea.  The  night  is  starless  and 
Captain  Arteus  wants  the  ship  to  sail  along  slowly.  Grandly  is  our 
ship  sailing  further  and  further  from  our  native  Athens.  Something 
has  struck  against  our  ship.  The  outlook  on  the  cross-trees  shouts 
down:  "Look  overboard  to  the  left!  A  large  sea  monster  has  struck 
the  ship." 

Hilicarus,  a  seaman  and  myself  looked  and  beheld  a  large  sea  snake 
nearly  as  long  as  our  ship.  Its  head  with  open  mouth  and  the  middle 
body  and  tail  are  plainly  visible  above  the  water.  Its  bump  made  the 
whole  ship  tremble.  It  held  its  head  toward  our  ship  in  defiance  and 
dashed  the  waters  into  foam  in  a  furious  manner.  It  had  two  strong 


A  Sea  Monster  301 

horns  on  its  head  and  a  bushy  mane.    It  kept  alongside  our  ship  for 
quite  a  distance. 

Hilicarus  gave  orders  to  call  Capt.  Arteus,  the  voyagers  and  Graphi- 
tus,  one  of  our  ship's  artists,  in  particular;  but  to  Hilicarus's  chagrin 
before  any  of  those  called  had  time  to  come  on  deck  the  monster  sea 
serpent  had  dived  out  of  sight. 

Graphitus  could  only  sketch  the  sea  serpent  from  the  description 
given  him  by  Hilicarus,  others  and  myself.  Graphitus  said,  "In  tomor 
row's  daylight  I  will  finish  the  picture  of  the  monster  sea  serpent,  which 
will  assist  in  adorning  the  walls  of  our  ship's  principal  hall."  The 
trembling  of  the  ship  as  the  serpent  bumped  against  it  was  felt  by  all 
below  deck  and  awoke  many  of  the  voyagers.  It  is  day. 

Scriborites :  Our  ship  is  lying  at  anchor  close  to  shore.  A  town  lies 
at  the  foot  of  a  hill.  The  houses  are  of  stone.  There  are  many  small 
boats  along  the  shore  and  bay.  All  the  people  are  standing  on  the  shore, 
including  many  spearmen,  clubmen,  bowmen  and  slingers.  Our  landing 
committee  has  gone  on  shore.  They  are  greeted  by  warriors  wearing 
bright  waving  horsehair  on  their  helmets.  Our  committee  is  accom 
panied  by  a  great  crowd  of  people  on  their  march  to  the  King's  castle. 
Slingers  on  shore  are  sending  large  stones  over  the  ship's  mast  far  into 
the  sea.  They're  very  expert  slingers.  Our  landing  committee  is  re 
turning  to  our  ship.  They  are  marching  in  line  with  a  large  procession 
of  warriors  and  people.  They  seem  to  be  marching  to  the  whistling  and 
music  of  many  men  and  maidens,  accompanied  by  drums  and  cymbals. 
The  people  do  not  appear  to  be  war-like.  The  landing  committee  has 
returned  to  the  ship. 

Terrafirma,  of  the  Landing  Committee,  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and 
said:  "Fellow  sea  rovers!  The  people  here  do  not  seem  to  be  war 
like.  The  King  accorded  us  a  friendly  greeting.  We  gave  him  presents 
and  he  returned  the  compliment  by  giving  us  some  bright  conch  shells. 
They  seem  to  live  almost  entirely  by  fishing.  We  do  not  think  it  would 
be  well  for  our  committee  of  commerce  to  lose  time  here  in  finding  trade 
when  there  is  none.  The  people,  old  and  young,  men,  women,  girls  and 
boys,  even  small  children,  all  seem  to  feel  happy — for  they  all  whistle. 
We  could  not  understand  their  peculiar  language,  so  it  will  be  well  to 
hear  our  interpreter  of  spoken  and  gesture  languages  speak." 


CHAPTEK  XV 


A    WHISTLING  LANGUAGE 

Theognis  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  sea  rovers !  Your 
committee  of  landing,  I  believe,  has  judged  the  conditions  here  aright. 
I  believe,  also,  it  would  not  be  wise  to  lose  time  at  this  island.  The  peo 
ple  seem  to  live  mostly  on  fish.  This  island  is  of  no  profit  to  commerce. 
The  language  of  the  islanders  I  can't  even  call  a  spoken  language.  It  is 
the  most  singular  and  peculiar  in  the  world.  We  well  remember  the 
language  spoken  on  the  island  which  some  of  you  named  the  'Poet's 
Island'  where  old  and  young  spoke  in  a  very  sweet,  agreeable  wave- 
flowing  cadence,  always  ending  in  a  rhyme,  the  island  where  I  desired 
to  remain  and  acquire  their  language  if  possible.  But  it  was  not  to  be. 

"But  the  language  of  this  island — I  can  hardly  say  spoken  by  its 
people — is  even  far  more  peculiar  and  wonderful  than  that  rhyming 
language  spoken  by  the  people  of  Poet's  Island.  Here  it  is  difficult  to 
understand.  At  first  on  hearing  them  whistle,  I  thought  they  were 
calling  one  another;  thought  they  made  use  of  whistling  the  same  as 
other  people  only  in  a  far  more  striking  and  more  frequent  degree. 
My  observation  soon  made  known  to  me  that  they  had  no  real  spoken 
language;  but  that  theirs  was  purely  a  whistling  language.  We  can 
now  hear  the  people  on  shore  loudly  whistling  towards  us,  also  whistling 
in  their  language  to  each  other.  It  didn't  take  long  to  convince  me  of 
the  fact  that  the  people  of  this  island  convey  their  thoughts,  wishes  and 
desires  to  each  other  by  whistling.  Every  man,  woman,  boys,  girls,  old 
and  young,  converse  with  each  other  in  that  way.  They  can  whistle  a 
far  deeper  and  higher  tone  than  other  people  can ;  also  in  a  far  greater 
variety  of  shades  of  sounds  and  manners  of  whistling. 

"I  gave  it  very  close  attention ;  and  the  longer  and  the  more  I  heard 
them  converse  with  each  other  the  more  agreeable,  wonderful  and 
natural  it  appeared.  By  their  actions  I  could  see  that  they  understood 
each  other  apparently  as  well  as  we  can  with  our  spoken  language. 

"The  King  also  whistled  and  all  the  nobles  spoke  to  each  other  in 
their  whistling  language. 

"On  leaving  the  King's  castle  our  landing  committee,  accompanied 
by  the  King's  nobles,  walked  between  two  rows  of  noble  maidens  and 
young  men,  who  all  whistled  in  unison  in  a  very  melodious  manner. 

"We  later  found  that  they  were  singing  a  song  in  our  honor.  Their 

302 


A   Whistling  Language  303 

whistling  song  sounded  very  beautiful  and  interesting.  Never  before 
have  we  heard  such  beautiful  whistling  music.  While  on  the  so-named 
Poet's  Island,  I  didn't  make  any  attempt  to  talk  with  them  in  their 
rhyming  language,  for  I  am  not  a  poet. 

"But  I  did  try  to  talk  to  these  people  on  shore  by  whistling.  I  would, 
however,  not  advise  anyone  to  try  to  talk  to  them  by  whistling.  Our 
landing  committee  is  witness.  While  we  were  standing  surrounded  by 
large  numbers  of  warriors  and  people,  all  of  whom  were  talking  to  each 
other  and  to  us  apparently  in  their  whistling  way,  I  thought  I  had  dis 
covered  the  meaning  of  some  of  their  whistling  sounds.  So  I  whistled 
back  to  them  to  see  what  effect  it  would  have.  I  whistled  in  particular 
to  a  comely  young  maiden  standing  close  to  me.  The  maiden,  with 
others,  blushed  rose  red  and  with  other  maidens  flew  from  our  presence. 
Several  of  the  young  warriors  with  fire  flashing  in  their  eyes,  rushed 
up  to  me  and  held  war  clubs  over  my  head  in  an  intense  angry,  threat 
ening  manner,  whistling  in  no  friendly  tone.  I  had  a  right  to  expect 
that  my  last  day  had  come,  through  my  attempt  at  talking  a  language 
of  which  I  knew  not  one  single  sound.  The  crowd  around  me  was  en 
raged;  but  it  seemed  to  dawn  upon  them  that  after  all,  I  didn't  know 
what  I  was  talking  or  rather  whistling  about.  My  whistling  must  have 
contained  sounds  that  expressed  insult  towards  the  maiden.  I  made  no 
further  attempt  to  talk — to  whistle  to  them. 

"Fellow  voyagers,  it  just  comes  to  mind,  at  Athens,  while  walking 
home  from  an  oration  held  by  one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers,  in 
company  with  one  of  my  comrades,  I  began  to  whistle.  After  a  short 
time  my  comrade  said  in  a  thoughtful  way,  'Theognis,  you  can't  sing 
well,  but  you  can  whistle  badly.' 

"I  find  this  day  that  my  comrade  must  have  judged  rightly ;  for  the 
people  on  this  island,  upon  hearing  me  whistle  to  them,  found  it  so  bad 
that  they  wanted  to  kill  me.  No,  I  have  no  longing  to  remain  at  this 
island,  as  I  had  at  the  Poet's  Island.  To  attempt  to  learn  their  whistling 
language  would  undoubtedly  be  a  matter  of  life  and  death." 

Our  ship,  with  a  light  breeze,  all  sails  set,  is  sailing  in  a  westerly 
direction.  The  ship  is  out  of  sight  of  land.  The  wind  has  lulled  down 
into  a  perfect  calm.  The  ship  lies  perfectly  still,  with  its  bow  pointing 
from  our  desired  course.  Mindoritus,  standing  alongside  of  the  helms 
man,  says: 

"Blow,  blow,  ye  winds, 

And  lash  the  sea  to  foam, 

As  o'er  the  deep  blue  sea  we  roam, 

Far  from  our  native  home." 

Orato  prays  to  Aeolus  to  break  the  calm  and  give  us  fair  wind.  A 
rainbow  flag  is  hoisted  on  each  of  the  four  masts,  in  honor  of  Aeolus, 
God  of  the  Winds.  The  flags  on  the  four  masts  are  waving1  in  oppo- 


304  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

/jite  directions.  After  all  flags  wave  and  the  wind  blew  steadily  again 
in  one  direction  and  our  ship  was  again  sailing  on  its  course,  Pindarus, 
who  had  read  an  improvised  rhyme  to  the  voyagers,  the  truthfulness  of 
which  all  acknowledged,  handed  it  to  me  as  a  matter  of  record.  It  is 
as  follows : 

There  is  a  calm  upon  the  deep, 

The  God  of  Wind  is  fast  asleep. 

The  sea  glistens  far  and  wide — 

A  mirror  bright  on  every  side ; 

One  can  behold  reflections  fair, 

The  maidens  with  their  wealth  of  hair, 

Who  now  and  then  look  down,  behold 

Their  image  true,  of  beauteous  mold, 

In  sunlight  calm,  the  sea  doth  seem 

Like  to  a  beauteous  restful  dream. 

And  in  the  calmness  of  the  night 

When  moon  and  stars  are  shining  bright, 

A  mirror  of  the  world,  O  sea ! 

The  fiery  orbs  reflect  in  Thee. 

With  these  so  near  and  those  so  far 

We  doubly  view  each  twinkling  star. 

Our  ship  no  progress  now  doth  make, 

No  fiery  glistenings  light  its  wake. 

Our  ship  is  swaying  round  at  will, 

For  all  around  is  calm  and  still. 

O,  sea,  thou'rt  like  our  lives,  we  find, 
With  moods  of  many  a  varying  kind. 
And,  too,  we  see  progress  would  stay 
If  calms  would  hold  o'er  storms  full  sway. 
Our  ship's  artistic  sails,  so  fair, 
Feel  not  the  slightest  breath  of  air. 
Still  motionless  our  ship  doth  lie, 
Our  helpless  steersman  scans  the  sky 
And  flags  on  high,  and  prays,  "O,  please, 
"Aeolus,  send  a  favoring  breeze." 

Whilst  waters  glistening  all  around, 
With  reverence  deep,  without  a  sound, 
Orato  on  the  rostrum  high, 
With  incense  rising  to  the  sky, 
Invokes  Aeolus,  who  holds  sway, 
O'er  winds  and  storms  by  night — by  day. 
All  voyagers  now  stand  around, 
In  silence  pray,  sincere,  profund, 
Orato,  praying  long,  not  loud, 
And  then  again  rejoins  the  crowd. 


And  said: 


"Captain  Arteus. 

Let's  raise  the  rainbow  flags  on  high, 

Where  winds  first  show  that  stir  the  sky." 


Flags  Wave  North,  South,  East,   West  305 

On  four  masts  each  soon  hung  a  flag, 
Still,  windless — something  like  a  rag. 
High  on  the  rostrum  now  again 
Orato  spoke  in  words  quite  plain: 

"O  Aeolus,  God  of  the  winds, 
Although  around,  no  land  we  see, 
We  raised  our  flags  to  honor  Thee, 
For,  O,  we  believe  your  hands  so  soft 
Delight  to  wave  our  flags  aloft. 
Delight  to  wave,  caress  each  flag, 
That  now,  O,  hangeth  like  a  rag. 
We  pray  to  Thee  with  incense  rare, 
O  break  the  calm  with  breezes  fair 
So  our  great  ship  can  sail  again 
Right  proudly  onward  o'er  the  main." 

They  looked  aloft,  they  looked  around — 
But  only  calm  seemed  to  abound, 
But  shortly  up  the  steersman  spoke : 
"The  calm,  now  surely  it  is  broke; 
Look  up  aloft,"  he  shouted  loud. 
And  then  they  stared,  the  startled  crowd. 
The  flags  were  waving,  that  was  true, 
The  steersman  knew  not  what  to  do  • 
The  ship,  it  minded  not  its  guide. 
Some  sails  were  here,  some  t'other  side. 
The  ship  sailed  round  and  back  again. 
The  Captain  spoke  in  language  plain, 
To  helmsmen  and  to  sailors  all, 
Words  that  'tis  well  not  to  recall. 
Bewildered,  all  the  sailors,  each, 
For  sails  were  here,  then  out  of  reach. 
A  gentle  breeze  was  blowing  now, 
Now  this  way  points,  now  that,  the  bow. 
The  ship  would  sail  no  course  at  all, 
But  turn  in  circles,  large  and  small. 

The  Captain  shouted,  "Down  each  sail," 

As  if  a  squall  had  struck,  or  gale. 

The  steersmen  sweat,  the  Captain  swore, 

In  language  never  heard  before. 

The  ship  now  stood  with  poles  all  bare, 

And  gentle  breezes  waft  the  air. 

The  steersman  shouts,  "O,  Captain,  see 

What  may  the  wind  up  there  now  be." 

He  looks.    All  look,  and  now  'tis  plain 

(Each  thought  at  first  "Can  we  be  sane") 

They  all  agreed  they  say  aright 

A  great  bewildering,  wondrous  sight. 

One  flag  waved  west  and  one  waved  south, 

One  east,  one  north,  and  thus  with  mouth 

Wide  open,  each  beheld  the  masts  on  high 

With  flags  a-waving  in  the  sky 

In  all  directions;   now  'twas  found 


306  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

The  reason  why  the  ship  sailed  round, 
Regardless  of  its  helm  so  true, 
But  soon  again  the  breezes  blew 

,  From  south.    And  then  with  sails  its  best 

Our  ship  sailed  proudly  towards  the  west 

Orato  said: 

"Aeolus  heard  our  prayers,  'tis  true, 
But  wished  to  show  what  he  could  do. 
He  wished  to  baffle  us,  you  know, 
And  thus  each  flag,  it  waved  just  so!       / 
But  now  again  south  wind  holds  sway, 
Fair  wind  that  speeds  us  on  our  way. 
Further  and  further  from  Attic's  land 
To  some  far,  distant,  unknown  strand." 

The  watch  on  the  mast  called  down:  "Land,  land  ahead!  To  the 
right !"  Captain  Arteus  commands  the  ship  in  that  direction.  Men  and 
maiden  voyagers  are  all  climbing  up  the  masts  to  see  the  land.  With 
all  sails  raised  the  ship  is  sailing  along  with  great  speed.  High  bluffs 
are  in  plain  sight.  Our  ship  is  sailing  close  to  the  high  shore  bluff. 
Maidens  can  be  seen  waving  flowers  and  branches.  The  ship's  top  sails 
are  lowered.  The  ship  is  sailing  very  slowly  along  the  abrupt  shore 
bluffs.  A  path  is  leading  up  to  the  bluffs  from  the  landing  wharf.  Beau 
tifully,  but  scantily  dressed  maidens  are  sing-ing-  with  wonderful, 
powerful  seductive  sweetness. 

The  eyes  of  all  on  ship,  particularly  the  sailors,  are  all  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  maidens  singing  so  wonderously,  so  invitingly,  on  the  bluffs 
above.  There  is  a  beautiful  garden-like  forest  and  fine  green-clad 
bowers  on  the  bluff  above,  where  the  tuneful  maidens  dwell.  Sailors 
are  becoming  oblivious  to  the  officers'  orders.  Captain  Arteus  finds  he 
is  losing  command  of  the  sailors.  The  handsome  maidens  also,  with 
small  stones  tied  to  the  stems  of  bouquets  of  flowers,  are  throwing  them 
down  from  the  bluff,  towards  the  ship,  some  of  which  have  fallen  on  the 
ship's  deck.  But  mainly  it  was  the  sweet  powerful  voices  that  captured 
the  listeners. 

Theognis,  our  ship's  interpreter  of  spoken  and  gesture  language,  is 
up  in  the  cross-tree  trying  to  interpret  their  songs  if  possible. 

"They  are  sirens.  They  are  sirens,"  spoke  Hilicarus  to  Arteus.  The 
helmsman,  of  his  own  will,  headed  the  ship  towards  the  land.  Hilicarus 
struck  him  down,  and  took  the  helm  and  brought  the  ship  again  on  its 
course. 

Marstenes  commanded  all  the  voyagers  to  join  in  a  well  known  song 
accompanied  by  the  voyagers'  musicians.  The  grand  chorus  of  our  ship 
overwhelms  that  of  the  Sirens.  With  Hilicarus  at  the  helm  and  the 
powerful  chorus  of  our  voyagers,  the  ship  is  sailing  from  the  island  and 
beyond  hearing  of  the  alluring  music  of  the  sirens.  The  sailors  looked 


Charming  Sirens  on  Shore  Cliff  307 

Lack  with  longing  glances,  but  are  again  obeying  the  commands  of  our 
ship's  officers.  Many  must  be  the  ships  and  sailors  that  are  lured  and 
charmed  into  destruction  by  the  sweet  seductive  songs  of  those  sirens, 
that  resound  down  to  passing  ships.  Captain  Arteus  makes  it  known 
that  this  will  be  and  is  the  only  instance  where  he  will  overlook  the 
sailors'  disobedience  and  lack  of  strict  attention  to  duty.  In  all  other 
cases  it  would  have  been  punished  by  death. 

The  island  where  the  sirens  dwell  is  out  of  sight  and  all  again  is  in 
ship-shape  order.  As  Theognis  came  down  on  deck,  from  the  cross-trees, 
some  of  our  men  voyagers  asked  him  if  he  had  interpreted  the  sirens' 
song's. 

"Impossible,"  said  some  of  the  voyagers.  "He  don't  understand  their 
language." 

Theognis  said,  "Yes,  I  noted  down  the  songs." 

"Rostrum !    Rostrum  !"  shouted  the  crowd. 

Theognis  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Voyagers  afraid  of 
sirens!  That  is  the  way  I  feel  that  I  should  address  you  at  this  par 
ticular  time.  I  find  that  by  my  knowledge  of  different  languages  I  have 
discovered  that  the  Phoenician  ships  must,  as  at  Syracuse,  also  touch 
upon  this  shore,  and  Phoenician  seamen,  perhaps,  touch  even  more  than 
its  shores. 

"The  beautiful  sirens  must  have  come  in  frequent  contact  and  con 
versation  with  Phoenician  sea  rovers ;  for  after  they  sang  their  songs  a 
second  time,  I  was  able  to  understand  them.  The  bluff  is  about  the 
same  height  as  the  cross-trees  and  so  I  was  within  a  good  hearing 
position.  Now,  although  the  songs  of  the  sirens  are  very  agreeable  and 
sweet  and  tuneful  to  all  ears,  the  words  of  their  songs  may  be  such  as 
not  to  please  or  sound  agreeable  to  the  ears  of  many  of  our  fellow  voy 
agers.  Therefore,  I  believe  they  should  remain  dumb  on  parchment." 

"Read!     Read!     Read!"  came  from  all  direction. 

"Fellow  Voyagers,"  continued  Theognis,  "of  course  you  didn't  sing 
those  songs.  I  didn't  sing  them,  and  reading  them  would  be  only  what 
others  sang.  I  don't  claim  that  I  interpreted  every  one  of  the  songs. 
And  even  then  I  will  reserve  the  right  to  read  as  much  of  what  I  noted 
down  as  I  deem  best.  If  you  had  been  upon  the  cross-trees  and  could 
have  beheld  them  as  well  as  I  have,  you  wouldn't  have  thought  is  neces 
sary  for  us  to  sail  away  from  them.  The  charming  sirens  try  to  throw 
some  color  into  the  rugged  sailor's  life. 

"Well,  I'll  read  a  part  of  one  of  their  songs  which  I  interpreted.  It 
is  as  follows : 

O,  ship,  ahoy!    O,  ship,  ahoy! 

We  dearly  love  each  sailor  boy. 

We  love  the  men  that  cleave  the  wave, 

So  handsome,  rugged,  strong  and  brave ; 


308  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

So  daring,  O  so  fearless  free, 
A-dashing  o'er  the  deep  blue  sea. 
O,  come  and  take  a  needed  rest, 
Upon  a  friendly  maiden's  breast 

O,  ship,  ahoy!    O,  ship,  ahoy! 
O  come  with  us,  sweet  life  enjoy. 
O  come  where  mirth  and  song  hold  sway, 
Far  better  than  the  salt  sea's  spray. 
O,  life  is  short  and  time  flies  fast, 
It's  better  here  than  on  the  mast. 
Our  language  you  can  understand, 
Our  eyes,  no  matter  from  what  land. 

O,  ship,  ahoy !    O,  ship,  ahoy ! 
We  love  thee,  brave,  bold  sailor  boy ; 
Your  manly  voice,  so  strong  and  gruff, 
Like  ocean's  roaring  billows,  rough, 
With  all  our  charms,  with  all  our  arms, 
We  greet  you,  leaving  all  alarms 
Of  storms  forgot,  in  loving  glance, 
In  soft  caress  and  whirlwind  dance. 

O,  ship,  ahoy!    O,  ship,  ahoy! 

Brave  sailor  boy,  O,  come  and  toy 

In  fond  caress,  and  softly  press 


"But,  fellow  voyagers,  I  leave  the  rest  blank  on  my  parchment." 
(Applause.) 

Our  maidens  said  that  it  was  little  wonder  that  seamen  could  hardly 
withstand  the  allurements  and  charms  of  the  beautiful  sirens  and  their 
sweet  seductive  songs. 

Our  ship  is  cutting  the  waves  southward.  The  outlook  on  the  mast 
calls  down  again,  "Land,  land,  to  the  west!"  The  ship's  course  is 
changed  to  the  west.  With  a  fair  breeze  the  land  is  coming  in  plain 
view.  The  sails  are  lowered  and  our  ship  is  lying  close  to  shore  in  a 
small  bay.  A  few  houses  are  seen  near  the  sea  side.  The  landing  com 
mittee  with  a  force  of  voyagers,  under  command  of  Balordius,  have 
gone  on  shore. 

Instead  of  the  people  coming  to  view  our  ship  they  all  seem  to  be 
going  inland  from  us.  Our  voyagers  are  also  marching  inland.  The 
boats  lying  in  a  narrow  stream  near  by  are  small.  Fruits  grow  on  the 
island  in  great  abundance.  Wild  animals  are  also  plentiful,  as  the  skins 
hanging  around  the  houses  indicate. 

All  the  ship's  voyagers  have  also  gone  on  land.  There  are  only  a  few 
houses  on  the  shore  and  few  people  are  to  be  seen. 

Our  voyagers  from  inland  are  now  returning.  They  are  carrying 
some  of  their  number  who  have  been  dangerously  wounded  back  on  the 
ship. 

Balordius  commands  all  to  return  on  the  ship. 


Shooting  Around  a  Corner  309 

On  arrival  at  the  ship,  Balordius  ascends  the  rostrum  and  reports: 
''Fellow  adventurers!  This  island  holds  no  inducement  to  commerce. 
Fruits  and  fish  are  its  main  products.  The  people  live  mostly  away 
from  the  shore  and  we  found  them  in  great  numbers  inland.  Neither 
Theognis,  nor  any  of  us,  could  make  them  believe  that  we  came  in 
peace.  They  are  in  one  particular,  the  most  expert  and  dexterous  bow 
men,  spearmen  and  slingers  that  we  ever  saw;  we  have  never  before 
heard  of  their  equal.  We  could  not  mingle  with  them  or  approach  them 
for  they  steadily  retreated  in  somewhat  military  order. 

The  women  seemed  to  hide  out  of  sight.  There  are  many  high, 
abrupt  stone  bluffs  further  inland.  While  we  were  marching  along  side 
of  one  of  those  large  stone  bluffs,  nearing  a  corner  to  the  right,  we  were 
surprised  and  fiercely  attacked  by  darts,  stones  and  spears  that  flew 
around  the  corner.  We  were  marching  near  the  corner,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  stone  bluff  and  could  not  see  any  of  the  people,  although  we 
knew  they  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  bluff,  at  a  short  distance  from 
us.  We  soon  observed  that  they  could  shoot,  sling  stones  and  throw 
their  spears  around  sharp  corners.  It  was  at  that  attack,  out  of  sight 
of  their  warriors,  that  so  many  of  our  fellow  voyagers  were  so  danger 
ously  wounded  by  spears,  stones  and  darts,  thrown  and  shot  around  the 
corner  of  the  bluff  by  the  island  warriors.  They  would  not  come  out  in 
the  open  but  would  always  take  such  positions  behind  the  stone  bluffs  so 
they  could  shoot  and  throw  at  us  around  the  corner  without  exposing 
themselves  to  our  spears  and  arrows. 

To  earnestly  battle  with  these  people  would  cost  us  many  lives.  The 
superior  thickness  of  our  whole  armor  saved  our  wounded  from  instant 
death,  for  these  people  can  shoot  and  throw  around  the  corner  with  the 
same  deadly  force  as  if  shooting  or  throwing  in  a  straight  direction. 

Venturides,  who  stealthily  scaled  one  of  the  rocky  bluffs  and  singly 
watched  how  they  set  off  their  darts,  stones  and  spears  so  they  would 
fly  around  the  corner  of  the  stone  bluff  can  himself  tell  us  what  he  ob 
served." 

Venturides  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  Voyagers! 
I  as  well  as  all  the  rest  of  us,  was  very  curious  to  know  how  they  could 
shoot  and  throw  around  sharp  corners.  After  quite  a  difficult  climb,  I 
succeeded  in  reaching  the  top  of  the  bluff  near  which  our  comrades 
were  wounded.  I  stealthily  ran  to  the  west  side  of  the  bluff,  almost 
directly  over  the  island  warriors.  On  looking  down  I  could  see 
their  actions  plainly.  The  stone  slingers  ran  about  three  steps  forward, 
stopped  suddenly  and  with  a  peculiar  twist  sent  the  stone  flying  in  a 
straight  line  until  it  reached  the  corner  around  which  it  flew  like  a 
bird.  So  too,  in  the  same  way,  did  they  shoot  the  dart  and  throw  the 
spear,  taking  a  strong  short  leap  at  three  paces,  stop  abruptly,  and  then 
gave  a  sudden  very  peculiar  twist  to  the  twang  of  the  bow ;  also  in  their 


310  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

throwing  of  the  spear.  I  was  so  interested  in  their  manner  of  throwing 
and  shooting  and  so  eager  to  learn  the  same,  if  possible,  that  I  exposed 
myself  to  their  view,  and  I  with  my  greatest  speed  returned  to  my  com 
rades.  In  my  haste  I  almost  fell  down  the  side  of  the  high  stony  bluff. 

This  island  can  not  interest  our  committee  of  commerce,  but  upon 
our  homeward  voyage  it  would  seem  well  to  land  at  this  island  again 
and,  through  gifts,  attempt  to  have  several  of  us  voyagers  try  to  learn 
their  peculiar  manner  of  shooting  and  throwing  around  the  corner ;  thus 
bringing  a  new,  useful,  powerful  art  of  war  to  our  Athens."  (Applause.) 

Mondarites,  among  the  voyagers  on  deck,  said :  "So  that  we  can  find 
this  island  again,  upon  our  return  voyage,  let  us  name  it  'The  Island 
Around  the  Corner.' "  (Applause.) 

The  stone  anchor  is  hoisted.  Our  ship  is  now  sailing  in  a  westerly 
direction.  The  wind  is  from  the  south.  Phoebus  is  lowering  in  the 
west.  Our  night  scribe  is  on  deck. 

Anaxogerus :  A  warm,  south  breeze  is  wafting  our  ship  on  a  south 
westerly  course.  We  are  out  of  sight  of  land.  The  blue  vault  above  is 
cloudless.  The  crescent  moon  and  twinkling  stars  are  reflected  on  the 
mirror  of  the  world. 

Hilicarus,  second  officer,  looking  up  to  the  North  Star,  says:  "Ac 
cording  to  the  information  received  at  Pama,  we  will  sight  land  in  the 
morning."  Several  stars  are  falling  in  various  directions  from  the  blue 
vault  above,  but  there  are  enough  stars  left  yet.  Slowly,  quietly,  but 
majestically,  is  our  ship  sailing  over  the  smooth  bending  star-reflecting 
sea.  Aurora  tells  of  coming  day.  The  day  scribe  is  on  deck. 

Scriborites:  No  land  in  sight.  Many  birds  are  swaying  on  the  bil 
lows.  Capt.  Arteus  says  that  that  is  a  sign  that  land  can  not  be  far 
distant. 

The  outlook  on  the  mast  calls  down:  "Land,  Land,  to  the  west!" 
Our  ships  is  sailing  in  the  direction  of  land.  Small  boats  are  seen  near 
the  shore.  Capt.  Arteus,  who  was  up  the  mast,  says  it  looks  as  if  there 
is  an  entrance  to  a  sheltered  bay,  and  a  good  place  to  land.  It  may 
be  the  Bay  of  Palos.  Polybus,  our  ship's  magician,  who  is  gifted  with 
superior  vision,  says  there  is  a  fine  opening  into  an  enclosed  bay.  Our 
ship,  with  half  of  the  sails  set,  is  sailing  into  the  bay.  It  is  now  moored 
at  anchor  very  close  to  land.  A  small  town  is  near  the  bay.  Many 
small  boats  are  on  land  and  in  the  bay.  The  people  are  running  to  the 
shore. 

Our  landing  committee  has  gone  on  its  mission.  They  are  walking 
with  the  people  towards  the  largest  looking  house.  Slingers  are  throw 
ing  oranges  and  apples  on  the  ship,  also  are  throwing  oranges  and  apples 
and  other  large  fruit  against  one  of  the  principal  sails — the  only  sail 
that  is  left  up.  The  fruit  falls  on  deck  as  it  strikes  the  sail. 

Polybus,  our  ship's  magician,  calls  out :    "Don't  eat  them.    Don't  eat 


Fruit  Thrown  on  Ship  311 

them.  They  may  be  poisoned. "  One  of  the  sailors  had  eaten  a  part  of  an 
orange  and  was  taken  quite  sick.  The  apples  and  oranges  were  ex 
amined  and  all  were  found  to  be  slightly  discolored  by  some  poisonous 
substance  inside.  None  were  eaten. 

The  landing  committee  returned  and  said  that  the  town  is  named 
Payloris.  The  King  had  accepted  the  gifts  and  seemed  honored  by  our 
ship's  presence  in  his  bay.  Theognis  said  they  can  speak  some  Phoeni 
cian.  The  committee  of  commerce  and  a  large  number  of  men  and 
maiden  voyagers  are  now  on  shore.  All  of  them  have  been  warned  not 
to  eat  or  drink  anything  at  this  people's  landing. 

King  Paylostus  is  informed  of  the  object  of  our  Grecian  ship's  voy 
age  and  also  that  the  voyagers  would  be  pleased  to  engage  in  Grecian 
sports  and  games  with  his  nobles,  warriors  and  also  maidens. 

The  maidens  of  Paylos  fastened  a  small  cedar  twig  and  flowers  to 
the  garments  of  our  men  voyagers  and  also  to  the  garments  of  our 
maiden  voyagers. 

Under  the  leadership  of  King  Paylostus  all  marched,  passing  under 
hastily  constructed  floral  arches  to  the  athletic  field  near  the  palace. 
In  all  contests  our  voyagers  were  far  superior  to  those  people  in  games 
of  dexterity  and  strength.  It  also  was  observed  that  they  were  not 
trained  to  use  both  hands  equally  well,  as  our  voyagers  had  been.  Our 
Spartan- Athenian  training  of  both  right  and  left  arm  and  hand  alike, 
showed  itself  to  great  advantage  at  these  contests,  each  of  which  could 
have  been  easily  won  by  our  men  and  maidens  if  they  had  made  ef 
forts.  In  comparison,  these  people  seem  very  helpless  with  the  full  use 
of  but  one  of  their  arms.  The  people  of  Payloris  could  not  help  but 
notice  the  usefulness  and  desirability  of  being  able  to  use  both  arms  and 
hands  equally  well. 

King  Paylostus'  nobles  informed  Marstenes  that  the  King  had  or 
dered  a  banquet  to  be  in  readiness  in  honor  of  the  great  ship's  voyagers. 

At  about  the  same  time  a  messenger  came  from  the  ship  and  reported 
to  Marstenes  that  Capt.  Arteus  had  sent  him  to  say  that  the  skies 
looked  as  if  the  wind  was  liable  to  change  suddenly,  and  as  the  breezes 
were  still  fair  to  sail  out  of  the  narrow  entrance  into  the  ocean  the  ship 
ought  to  lose  no  time,  but  should  sail  out  of  the  bay  at  once,  for  a 
change  of  wind  might  compel  our  large  ship  to  remain  in  the  bay  for  a 
number  of  days,  unable  to  sail  out. 

It  is  a  fine  bay  for  shelter,  something  like  a  small  lake,  with  a  nar 
row  opening  to  the  sea. 

Marstenes,  after  listening  to  Capt.  Arteus's  messenger,  ordered  the 
horns  to  be  blown,  which  is  a  signal  for  all  voyagers  to  fall  in  line  for 
marching  order  to  the  ship.  Marstenes  gave  the  reasons  to  the  King 
through  Theognis,  our  interpreter,  why  the  voyagers  could  not  remain 
to  partake  of  the  banquet,  which  was  being  prepared  in  our  honor. 


312  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

The  Paylorisian  maidens  entwined  the  voyagers'  spears  and  bows 
with  small  twigs  and  flowers.  With  music  and  songs,  our  men  and 
maiden  voyagers  marched  down  to  the  ship  accompanied  by  the  King's 
nobles,  the  King  and  his  warriors  and  his  people.  Several  beautiful 
garlands  and  flower  arches  were  passed  through  on  our  return  march  to 
the  ship. 

As  if  by  magic,  these  were  erected  by  the  people  in  our  honor. 

On  leaving  the  strand  for  the  ship,  many  beautiful  bouquets  of  flow 
ers  were  given  to  both  men  and  maiden  voyagers. 

After  the  roll  call  showed  that  all  the  voyagers  were  on  ship,  the 
voyagers,  accompanied  by  the  ship's  magician,  sang  a  beautiful  farewell 
song,  after  which  the  stone  anchors  were  hauled  on  ship  board,  and  with 
full  sails,  all  rainbow  flags  waving,  our  ship  sailed  proudly  out  through 
the  narrow  opening  into  the  sea. 

It  could  be  plainly  seen  that  the  people  regretted  greatly  that  our 
ship  could  not  remain  longer;  for  they  had  thought  we  would  remain 
several  days  as  the  arrangements  indicated. 

Our  ship  is  now  sailing  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  Marstenea 
ascended  the  rostrum,  and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers!  In  that  beautiful 
sheltered  bay,  we  likely  would  have  stayed  for  several  days,  but  we  had 
a  right  to  look  at  their  proposed  banquet  with  suspicion.  Capt.  Arteus 
had  given  us  a  hint  and  he  gave  us  a  good  excuse  and  reason  why  our 
ship  should  sail  forth  into  the  open  sea  without  delay.  At  this  landing 
we  have  been  met  by  extremes.  Upon  our  arrival  the  most  deadly 
scheming — upon  our  further  sojourn  and  departure  the  most  friendly 
and  apparently  sincere  actions!  The  large  quantity  of  fruit,  apples, 
oranges,  and  such  like  which  the  warrior  slingers  took  out  of  baskets 
and  with  their  slings  threw  against  our  ship's  sail  so  they  would  fall 
on  deck,  was  without  doubt  a  scheme  through  which  they  hoped  to  get 
possession  of  our  grand  ship.  They  planned  to  poison  all  or  enough  of 
our  people  on  the  ship  so  they,  without  great  resistance,  could  capture 
and  get  possession.  That  all  the  fruit  contained  deadly  poison,  we  know 
for  a  certainty. 

"While  we  were  on  land  three  of  our  fellow  voyagers  said  they  did 
not  believe  that  the  tempting  fruit  was  poisonous,  and  that  they  were 
not  afraid  to  eat  it.  They  were  warned,  but  in  a  spirit  of  daring,  they 
cut  the  fruit  into  four  parts  and  ate  as  a  trial,  each  one  of  the  parts. 
They  immediately  became  very  sick,  speechless  and  whole  body  lame, 
and  are  even  now  still  suffering.  Eating  the  whole  fruit,  it  is  apparent, 
would  have  resulted  in  instant  death  or  complete  helplessness. 

"The  scheme  of  securing  possession  of  our  ship  through  poisoned  food 
may  have  been  planned  by  only  a  few  warrior  slingers,  upon  seeing  our 
grand  ship  lying  in  their  sheltered  bay.  The  possession  of  our  ship  is 
certainly  worth  scheming  for.  The  actions,  while  on  land  of  King, 


Steady   Your  Helm  313 

nobles  and  of  all  the  people  were  attentive  and  friendly.  Nothing  but 
an  air  of  friendship  seemed  to  greet  us  and  prevailed. 

"But  Theognis,  who  can  understand  their  manners  and  intentions  bet 
ter  than  any  of  us,  firmly  believes  that  from  the  king  down  the  intention 
was  to  secure  possession  of  our  great  ship  by  the  aid  of  poison.  He 
believes  that  if  we  had  partaken  of  the  banquet  it  would  have  resulted 
in  our  death  or  complete  helplessness  against  attack.  After  that  they 
would  have  made  an  attempt  to  take  possession  from  those  remaining 
on  board.  They  very  likely  would  not,  even  then,  have  succeeded  in 
taking  the  ship,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  their  plan.  But  we  are  not 
certain;  for  it  is  the  gods  only  who  can  know  the  schemes  that  evolve 
in  the  brain  of  mortal  man." 

Emporosodes,  of  the  Committee  of  Commerce,  spoke  from  the  rostrum 
and  said:  "Fellow  voyagers,  we  have  obtained  through  barter  several 
kinds  of  merchandise  which  all  can  view  in  our  store  room.  Commer 
cially,  this  landing  has  resulted  in  success,  for  the  good  of  Athens  and 
Payloris.  At  this  landing  future  Athenian  traders  should  land,  even  if 
Phoenician  traders  should  claim  it  for  themselves." 

The  ship  is  sailing  in  a  westerly  direction.  On  our  voyage  at  such 
times  when  the  bow  of  our  ship  swings  to  and  fro  from  its  straight 
course  Capt.  Arteus  often  calls  out  to  the  steersmen : 

"Steady  your  helm!" 

Nautinidus,  one  of  our  voyagers,  in  whose  ears  the  command  seems 
to  have  emphasized  itself,  has  just  handed  the  following  to  Corea, 
who  read  it  in  a  sweet,  clear  voice  from  the  rostrum. 

STEADY  YOUR  HELM ! 

When  from  its  course  the  ship  doth  swerve, 

Steady  your  helm! 
The  captain's  plain  commands  observe, 

Steady  your  helm! 

When  storms  run  high  with  darkened  skies, 
When  charmers  tempt  with  luring  eyes, 
When  intense  grief  or  malice  craves, 
When  passions  riot,  anger  raves, 

Steady  your  helm ! 

O  swerve  not  from  your  courses  right, 
But  with  the  mind  and  with  all  might, 
Be  it  by  day,  be  it  by  night, 

Steady  your  helm! 
Thus  will  the  ship  in  triumph  sail, 
Against  all  baffling  storms  prevail; 
The  harbor  enter  safely,  grand, 
And  thus,  until  the  ship  doth  land, 

Steady  your  helm!  (Applause.) 

The  ship  is  sailing  in  a  southwesterly  direction  in  sight  of  land  close 
along  the  shore.  A  sailor  is  constantly  measuring  the  depth  with  a 


314  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

sounding  stone.  To  the  seaward  waterspouts  are  seen.  These  seem  to 
connect  the  clouds  with  the  sea  by  a  very  graceful  pillar  of  water. 
Oristotle,  our  ship's  artist,  will  preserve  them  in  a  sketch.  Our  ship  is 
almost  becalmed.  Close  to  the  ship  there  are  four  large  water  spouts 
hissing  around  our  ship.  Their  form  is  like  a  sand-time  glass. 

Orato,  on  the  rostrum,  is  invoking  Aeolus  and  Neptune  to  preserve 
our  ship  from  their  terrible  destructive  powers.  The  giant  water  spouts 
are  racing  with  great  speed  on  the  water.  Two. of  the  immense  whirling 
water  spouts  broke  and  fell  into  the  sea  only  a  few  ship's  lengths  astern 
of  our  ship. 

With  an  increased  breeze  our  ship  is  sailing  away  from  this  danger 
ous  region. 

Our  ship  has  now  entered  a  river,  running  into  a  bay  that  faces  to 
the  south.  A  small  city  is  on  one  side  of  the  river.  Small  boats  are  on 
the  river  bank,  also  in  the  stream,  with  many  rowers.  Slingers  are 
slinging  stones  on  our  ship.  Archers  are  also  shooting  into  the  sails 
of  our  ship.  Marstenes  with  our  men  voyagers  has  gone  on  land  fully 
prepared  for  battle.  The  people  are  all  running  towards  their  King's 
castle.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall.  Many  of  the  King's  warriors 
are  within  the  castle.  Marstenes,  Sophon  and  Theognis,  without  armor 
or  spears,  by  the  aid  of  a  pyramid  of  four  men  high,  formed  by  the 
voyagers  standing  on  each  other's  shoulders,  scaled  the  wall  as  the  gates 
were  closed,  and  thus  they  visited  the  King  in  his  castle.  Theognis  found 
that  some  of  the  King's  nobles  understand  a  few  words  of  Phoenician. 
He  explained  to  the  King  the  peaceful  object  of  the  ship's  visit,  upon 
which  the  King  ordered  the  gates  to  be  opened  and  commanded  his  peo 
ple  not  to  shoot  darts  or  sling  stones  at  the  great  ship  in  their  bay. 

We  asked  where  Tarshish  lay,  to  which  the  Phoenicians  sailed  for 
gold  and  silver. 

The  King  said  that  Tarshish  was  further  west,  near  the  Pillars  of 
Hercules.  It  was,  he  said,  some  distance  inland,  on  a  large  river,  but, 
said  he,  no  people  excepting  Phoenicians  can  go  or  sail  there  for  there 
are  many  Phoenician  warriors  there  all  the  time  ready  to  fight  against 
any  ship  that  tries  to  sail  up  the  long  river. 

The  King  said  that  once  upon  a  time  in  his  young  days,  he  had  sailed 
up  that  large  river,  but  he  and  people  from  other  shores  were  told  to 
return  home  at  once  or  they  never  again  would  return.  "I  believe  I 
know,"  said  the  King,  "what  they  would  do  if  your  grand  ship  would 
sail  up  the  river  towards  Tarshish  for  gold  and  silver.  They  would  let 
it  sail  the  river  a  distance,  and  then  they  would  blockade  the  river  with 
stones,  so  your  great  ship  could  never  sail  out  and  never  return  home 
again.  The  people  of  that  country  help  the  Phoenicians.  All  other  peo 
ples  from  far  off  shores  must  stay  away  or  be  killed  and  their  ships 
taken  away.  If  you  sail  into  that  river,"  said  the  King,  "you  are  lost, 


A  Nation  as  a  Gift  315 

for  the  Phoenicians  and  people  of  that  country  say  that  river  and 
country  belongs  to  Phoenician  only." 

The  King  and  all  his  warriors  and  people  marched  down  to  the 
wharf  where  our  ship  landed.  Some  of  his  people  began  to  throw 
stones  against  the  masts  of  our  ship. 

Marstenes  formed  our  ship's  warriors  into  line  and  threatened  to 
make  a  desperate  charge  into  the  people  and  warriors,  but  King  Abder- 
aus  and  his  chiefs,  through  Theognis,  informed  Marstenes  that  our  voy 
agers  were  welcome  and  that  King  Abderaus  wanted  his  land  to  become 
a  part  of  the  nation  that  owned  such  a  grand  ship.  He  wanted  to  sub 
mit  to  the  rule  of  a  nation  whose  noble  people  could  not  but  be  true 
descendants  of  the  Gods.  He  and  his  nobles  desired  to  be  subjects  of 
our  great  Grecian  nation  and  wished  to  give  his  land  and  people  under 
the  rule  and  protection  of  our  Grecian  race. 

The  King,  followed  by  his  nobles,  went  to  the  river,  where  in  a  sol 
emn  manner  the  King  partly  filled  a  large,  fine  conch  shell  with  river 
water.  Then  he  placed  a  few  small  stones  in  it  and  a  handful  of  yellow 
earth.  Then  with  earnest  solemnity,  in  the  presence  of  his  chief,  pre 
sented  the  shell  containing  earth,  stones  and  water  to  Marstenes,  who 
accepted  it  with  words  of  thanks,  in  the  name  of  our  Athenian  people, 
and  had  it  carried  on  the  ship. 

This  giving  of  water,  stone  and  earth  to  Marstenes  signified  the  giv 
ing  of  his  country  to  our  Grecian  nation,  to  the  land  which  owned  and 
from  which  our  magnificent  ship  sailed.  King  Abderaus  instructed 
Marstenes  to  give  the  conch  shell,  containing  the  water,  stone  and  earth 
of  his  land,  to  the  King  of  our  nation  as  a  sign  of  submission  to  the 
nation  who  owned  the  large  ship.  The  King  said:  "He  and  his  people 
felt  proud  to  be  a  part  of  and  be  under  the  rule  of  such  a  superior  race 
of  people." 

The  King  was  assured  that  all  would  be  carried  out  in  accordance 
with  his  wishes,  and  that  when  our  ship  sailed  from  the  Pillars  of  Her 
cules  on  its  return  voyage,  it  would  again  sail  into  his  large  river. 

Several  presents  were  given  to  the  King  and  to  his  nobles.  And 
then  our  ship,  with  all  rainbow  flags  waving,  and  a  fair  breeze,  sailed 
out  into  the  sea  again. 

Our  Committee  of  Commerce  did  not  discover  any  very  valuable  arti 
cles  of  trade  here.  Marstenes  said : 

"We'll  take  the  land  gift  of  a  nation  in  all  seriousness ;  for  In  time, 
we  Athenians  may  find  it  of  value  to  have  a  harbor  of  refuge  among  the 
friendly  people  far  distant  from  our  native  Athens.  Let  us  say  to  our 
selves,"  Marstenes  continued,  "this  day  we  have  received  a  kingdom  as 
a  gift,  consisting  of  rocks,  water  and  earth." 

Darkness  is  coming  over  the  sea  and  land.  The  moonlight  scribe  is 
on  deck. 


316  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Anaxagoms :  The  ship  is  sailing  along  the  shore  towards  the  west. 
Since  sailing  from  our  last  landing-place  the  voyagers  have  caught  many 
fish  of  various  kinds.  Capt.  Arteus  has  ordered  Hilicarus  to  sail  slowly 
along  the  shores  so  as  not  to  sail  past  possible  desirable  inlets  and 
cities.  Phoebus  will  soon  throw  his  brilliant  rays  over  land  and  sea. 
The  day  scribe  is  here  to  relieve  me. 

Scriborites :  Bright  is  the  morning.  The  ship  is  slowly  sailing  along 
the  shore  which  is  north  of  us.  The  ship  has  for  the  most  part  of  the 
day  been  becalmed,  with  shore  in  sight.  The  night  scribe  is  on  deck. 

Anaxagorus:  The  ship  is  hardly  moving  through  the  waters  on  its 
westerly  course.  The  stars  are  shining  brightly.  None  of  the  voyagers 
came  on  deck  during  the  night;  but  now  Polybus  and  a  few  other  voy 
agers  come  on  deck  nights  it  seems  to  hold  secret  conversations.  Poly- 
bus,  truly,  is  a  mischievous  person,  which  I  suppose  all  magicians  are. 

Polybus  has  been  asked  to  join  the  commercial  voyage  to  entertain 
the  voyagers  by  his  magic  and  also  as  an  interpreter  of  signs,  as  a 
diviner  and  seer.  He  has  exhibited  many  of  his  occult  magical  powers 
and  predictions.  Placing  a  bit  of  rope  under  an  empty  bowl,  upon  lift 
ing  it  again,  a  large  number  of  butterflies  flew  out  over  the  sea.  Also 
standing  at  the  end  of  the  long  table  at  which  all  of  us  voyagers  were 
seated  at  meal  time,  in  the  ship's  large  hall,  Polybus  said,  "Voyagers, 
what  kind  of  fruit  do  you  like  best?"  Many  said,  "Grapes." 

So  he  said :  "Before  you  partake  of  the  meal  before  you,  noble  voy 
agers,  I  will  by  my  magic  wand,  after  passing  my  hand  over  all  of  you, 
I  will  have  placed  before  you  a  large  bunch  of  purple  grapes,  which  you 
will  find  very  luscious." 

The  grapes  appeared  to  all  and  were  eaten  by  all,  after  which,  with 
the  second  touch  of  his  magic  wand,  on  the  end  of  the  long  table,  he 
said,  "Now  you  have  eaten  the  grapes,  and  you  can  proceed  with  our 
regular  meal."  All  were  delighted. 

Many  other  instances  of  his  magical  power  could  I  record,  but  we 
were  told  magic  was  not  for  the  scribes  to  record.  Of  late,  nights, 
Polybus  and  a  few  of  the  other  voyagers  have  gathered  on  the  deck 
holding  secret,  suspicious  conversations.  It  is  day  and  the  scribe  ha£ 
come  to  relieve  me. 


CHAPTER  XVI 


PHILOSOPHIZING    ON  SIZE  OF  SUN,   MOON  AND 
FLAT  EARTH 

Scriborites:  The  ship  must  have  made  little  headway  during  the 
night,  as  we  have  only  now  a  steering  breeze.  All  the  voyagers  are  on 
deck.  Land  is  stretching  along  our  north  shore. 

Sophon  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  adventurers,  before 
our  departure  from  Athens,  several  companions  and  myself  measured 
the  size  of  the  full  moon  with  a  stick,  as  the  moon  arose  up  out  of  the 
east  abyss  of  the  world.  At  dawn  this  day  as  the  sun  arose  we  also, 
under  like  conditions,  stepping  back  fifteen  paces  and  with  a  stick,  also 
measured  the  size  of  the  sun  as  it  arose  out  of  the  east  abyss  of  the 
world.  The  measurement  on  this  stick  shows  that  the  moon  and  sun 
are  about  of  one  size.  Also  looking  from  the  same  distance  through  a 
square  frame,  have  we  found  their  sizes  to  be  about  equal. 

"This  knowledge  may  not  be  of  any  real  value  and  will,  of  course,  not 
make  the  sun  or  moon  give  us  any  more  light ;  but  it  will  for  all  time  to 
come  set  aside  dispute  as  to  the  comparative  size  of  the  moon  and  sun. 
The  right  time  to  measure  the  size  of  the  moon  and  sun  we  all  know,  ia 
just  as  they  arise  over  the  east  end  of  the  world.  It  is  then  when  one 
can  look  at  them  with  full  open  eyes  and  see  them  plainer  than  at 
any  other  time." 

Curiolina  spoke  up  and  said:  ''Sophon,  we  maidens  and  also 
some  of  the  men,  have  asked  ourselves :  Supposing  a  ship  were  out  on 
the  wide  unknown  sea,  west  beyond  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  and  it 
would  sail  and  sail  and  sail  towards  where  sea  and  sky  meet,  where 
would  it  reach  and  how  far  would  it  be?  How  long  would  it  take  to  sail 
there,  and  how  do  things  look  where  sky  and  waters  meet?" 

Many  of  the  other  maidens  also  spoke  up  and  said,  "Yes.  Yes !  Let 
us  hear  how  it  is  thought  the  world  looks  out  where  sky  and  waters 
meet." 

Sophon  answered:  "How  agreeable  it  would  have  been  if  several  of 
our  Athenian  philosophers  and  bards  could  have  accompanied  this  voy 
age  ;  but  as  they  are  all  older  than  the  age  limit  of  the  voyagers  accom 
panying  this  adventure,  they  could  not  accompany  us;  all  being  over 
348  moons  of  age. 

"We  find  that  upon  this  large  ship,  upon  such  a  long  voyage  there  is 

317 


318  The  Original  Fuur  Hundred 

more  time  than  we  know  what  to  do  with,  and  we  find  that  there  is 
no  better  place  than  on  a  ship  for  study  for  the  narration  of  stories, 
amusements,  and  interchange  of  opinions;  no  better  place  to  give  and 
take  instruction  and  listen  to  orations  and  stories  of  all  kinds. 

"I  am  asked  to  give  my  opinion  as  to  how  the  world  looks  out  on  the 
unknown  sea  where  the  water  and  sky  blend.  I  know  that  Hypnothoon 
has  received  special  teaching  of  our  most  noted  Athenian  philosophers 
on  such  subjects ;  and  therefore  I  would  ask  Hypnothoon  to  ascend  the 
rostrum  and  upon  this  beautiful  quiet  day  on  the  sea,  give  us  the 
benefit  of  the  lectures  he  has  attended. 

"We  all  have  attended  the  lectures  given  by  our  noted  philosophers ; 
but  upon  the  subject  of  inquiry  by  the  maidens  and  others  I  believe 
Hypnothoon  has  always  showed  special  predilections  for."  (Applause.) 

Hypnothoon  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  sea  rovers! 
You  have  all  attended  the  lectures  as  well  as  I  have ;  but  by  rehearsing 
what  we  have  been  taught,  it  will  recall  and  strengthen  the  same.  If  I 
do  not  rehearse  correctly,  please  let  me  know,  for  as  our  philosophers 
have  often  said,  'pointing  out  one's  error  leads  one  back  toward  truth,' 
and  should  always  be  accepted  as  a  friendly  act,  even  if  it  comes  from 
an  enemy. 

"You  have  asked  me  to  describe  how  the  world  looks  out  on  the  vast 
unknown  sea  where  the  waters  and  sky  meet.  You  ask  what  would 
happen  to  a  ship  if  it  would  sail  and  sail  out  to  the  utmost  bounds  of 
the  earth,  where  the  sky  and  waters  meet.  The  philosophers  have  told 
us  that  there  are  things  so  sacred  that  the  Gods  do  not  want  man  to 
know  or  speculate  upon,  for  there  are  so  many  things  the  philosophers 
say,  at  one's  feet,  which  man  should  first  understand  before  looking 
over  and  beyond,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  Also  are  there  places 
on  the  world's  wide  plain  which  the  Gods  do  not  want  man  to  journey 
or  sail  to;  where  they  do  not  want  man  to  behold  or  tread  upon,  be 
cause  such  places  are  not  for  man's  dwelling  place.  If  curiosity  should 
ever  prompt  man  to  voyage  or  sail  to  such  forbidden  places  of  the 
world,  he  would  never  return  again  and  his  rashness  would  be  punished 
by  suffering  and  death.  Certain  destruction  and  death  would  be  the  fate 
of  any  ship  that  would  venture  to  sail  and  sail  out  to  the  world's  utmost 
bounds.  We  have  heard  it  said:  Do  not  long  or  aspire  to  know  the 
secret  of  things  at  the  end  of  the  world.  Ill  luck  will  befall  those  who 
even  speak  or  speculate  on  things  which  belong  to  the  secrets  of  the 
Gods ;  we  have  been  taught :  'that  the  fear  of  the  Gods  is  the  beginning 
of  wisdom.'  There  are  places  on  this  world  it  is  claimed  where  man 
should  not  tread.  The  ends  of  the  world  are  such  places. 

"You  know  that  we  have  heard  our  philosophers  say  that  there  are 
some  things  so  sacred  that  man's  thought  should  not  dwell  upon,  for  it 
causes  the  Gods'  displeasure.  The  philosophers  say  that  it  has  often 


Philosophizing  on  Size  of  Sun,  Moon  and  Flat  Earth    319 

come  to  pass  that  when  a  mortal's  inquisitiveness  and  curiousity  reach 
beyond  the  limit  prescribed  by  nature,  the  Gods'  displeasure  has  led 
them  into  a  bewildering  labyrinth  of  thought ;  and  such  often  the  gods 
make  mad.  Philosophers,  however,  are  allowed  to  speculate  and  discuss 
all  things,  for  they  know  of  the  things  that  lie  around  their  feet;  and 
they  alone  have  a  right  to  speculate  on  all  things.  We  are  all  graduates 
of  noted  philosophers'  schools,  and  being  on  an  important  voyage  out  on 
the  wide  sea,  it  is  only  natural  that  we  should  ask  ourselves  how  things 
may  look  at  the  utmost  bounds  of  the  world,  where  sky  and  sea  blend. 
We  know  and  can  see  that  the  surface  of  the  flat  world  is  roughened 
by  valleys  and  mountains.  We  know  that  water  and  land,  blue  vault 
above,  and  sun,  moon  and  stars,  make  the  complete  world.  Water  and 
land  compose  the  parts  of  the  world  on  which  we  tread,  sail  and  dwell. 
The  sea  we  are  sailing  on  is  named  Mediterranean,  because  it  is  in  the 
middle  of  the  world.  Phoebus,  the  sun,  is  drawn  in  a  golden  chariot 
by  fiery  steeds  over  the  blue  vault  above ;  and  when  he  sets  down  in  the 
west  end  of  the  world  then  his  chariot  speeds  along  the  deep  abyss,  the 
sides  of  the  world  towards  the  south  and  around  to  the  east.  Aurora 
heralds  his  presence.  After  a  short  rest,  Phoebus  arises  in  the  east 
again. 

"Thus  endlessly  again  and  again,  day  succeeds  night.  If  the  sun 
would  remain  stationary  in  the  blue  vault  above  and  never  set,  its 
constant  rays  would  dry  up  the  waters,  and  all  plants,  and  all  life 
would  disappear  from  the  world's  wide  surface;  and  there  would  be  no 
orderly  time  for  rest  and  waking. 

"As  our  philosophers  have  often  said:  'Observe  all  things  the  Gods 
have  wrought  with  contemplation,  and  your  wonderment  will  expand.' 
The  moon  and  stars  also  receive  their  light  from  Phoebus. 

"The  world  is  in  shape  like  a  large,  round,  flat  disc.  The  flat  world 
as  we  all  can  see,  is  varied  somewhat  by  valleys  and  mountains.  Its 
length  and  width  and  its  size  is  as  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west 
There  are  two  different  comprehensions.  One  is  that  there  is  a  very 
narrow,  unevenly  raised  strip  of  land  on  the  edge,  around  the  ends  of 
the  world,  so  that  the  stream  of  ocean  cannot  fall  or  flow  over  the 
world's  end  down  into  the  dark  abyss. 

"Those  that  claim  such  a  theory  say:  "That  which  is  on  the  flat 
world  belongs  to  the  world  and  is  intended  to  remain  thereon  and  not 
come  in  conflict  with  things  beyond  its  domain. 

"I  remember  Terminalodos,  one  of  our  Nestors,  who  also  held  the 
opinion  that  there  is  a  narrow  strip  of  land  around  the  edge  of  the 
world,  said:  'Let  us  imagine  and  see  how  it  looks  at  the  west  end  of 
the  world.  Does  not  the  very  thought  of  its  grandeur  permeate  our 
very  beings  with  astonishment,  awe  and  sublimity!' 

"Standing  at  the  brink  of  the  world  we  would  behold  the  dark, 


320  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

fathomless  abyss  below  and  the  blue  ether  above  and  beyond.  And 
standing  there,  remaining  there  for  a  time,  one  would  behold  Phoebus 
in  his  golden  chariot,  drawn  by  fiery  steeds,  descend  down  into  the  deep 
abyss  at  the  world's  side,  dispelling  darkness  on  his  every  side.  Upon 
having  descended  to  his  accustomed  depth,  on  leaning  over  the  abyss, 
one  would  behold  Phoebus  far  below,  along  the  earth's  side,  moving  as 
if  in  flight,  with  great  speed  toward  the  south  end  of  the  world.  Phoe 
bus  would  first  appear  as  if  the  whole  world  were  ablaze;  and  as  he 
passed  onward  and  onward  in  the  distance  until  almost  at  the  turn  at 
the  south  end  of  the  world,  he  would  lessen  in  size  and  appear  in  the 
deep,  far  distance  as  a  monstrous  blazing  star. 

"No  man  will  ever  be  vouchsafed  to  behold  such  a  sublime  spectacle 
and  if  he  ever  should,  no  language  would  be  able  to  give  adequate  ex 
pression  to  the  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  the  scene.  There  are  places 
on  the  earth  where  man  should  not  go,  the  ends  of  the  world  are  such 
places." 

uHypnothoon  continued:  'The  most  noted  philosophers  say  that 
the  stream  of  ocean  flows  around  the  outer  edge  of  the  world,  at  which 
places  the  water  is  shallower  than  its  otherwise  unfathomable  depth. 
But  the  depth  at  the  very  brink  over  which  it  flows  and  falls  down  into 
the  dark  abyss  is  still  very  deep.' 

"So  our  most  noted  philosophers  tell  us  that  the  world-circling  ocean 
at  the  world's  end  is  constantly  rushing  down  into  the  deep,  dark 
abyss.  As  it  falls  and  falls  down,  down,  it  turns  into  foam,  then  into 
mist,  and  then  rises  up  to  the  sky  and  forms  clouds. 

"Some  have  given  as  their  opinion  that  the  ocean  stream  flows  so 
powerfully  and  swiftly  along  the  outer  edge  of  the  world  that  no  ship 
could  sail  across  the  stream  and  arrive  at  the  end  of  the  world. 

"But  the  most  noted  philosophers  say  that  the  outer  ocean  at  the 
ends  of  the  world  fall  over  and  down  into  the  dark  abyss  at  the  world's 
sides.  But  no  water  is  lost;  all  comes  on  the  world  again  as  rain. 

"So  it  has  been  for  all  time. 

"All  other  things  which  are  not  water  that  may  fall  down  over  the 
end  of  the  world  will,  they  say,  on  account  of  the  vast  distance  it 
would  fall,  and  its  increased  swiftness  of  fall,  burn,  flame,  and  arise  to 
the  sky,  invisible  to  the  human  eye. 

"So  the  abyss  at  the  ends  of  the  world  is  always  kept  clean  of  what 
ever  may  fall  over. 

"And  if  a  ship  should  sail  and  sail  over  the  end  of  the  world  it 
would,  in  its  deep  fall,  burn  into  flame  and  arise  out  of  sight  to  the 
skies  invisible. 

"It  is  thought  by  some  that  the  distance  to  the  end  of  the  world  is 
so  vast  that  no  seaman  would  live  long  enough  to  complete  the  voyage, 
and  consequently  no  ship  can  ever  sail  so  far. 


Philosophizing  on  Size  of  Sun,  Moon  and  Flat  Earth    321 

"We  have  seen  a  monster  sea  serpent,  but  it  is  claimed  that  further 
out  in  the  sea  the  larger  are  the  sea  monsters  of  endless  kinds,  and  it  is 
thought  by  seamen,  who  have  given  the  matter  great  thought,  that  sea 
monsters  of  many  kinds  roam  about  in  the  ocean  near  the  ends  of  the 
earth  so  powerful  that  any  ships  attempting  to  sail  to  the  brink  of  the 
world  would  be  destroyed  by  them. 

"Also  is  it  thought  that  even  if  the  distance  would  be  within  the 
life  of  seamen,  the  fearful  storms  raging  there  would  engulf  all  ships 
of  whatever  size.  So  it  seems  impossible  for  a  ship  to  sail  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  according  to  the  most  profound  opinions. 

"We  have  heard  of  seamen's  stories  where  a  ship  had  been  driven 
by  a  storm  so  near  to  the  end  of  the  world  that  the  seamen  from  the 
ship's  masts  could  plainly  look  into  the  far  off  abyss  and  see  vapors 
arising  there. 

"Also,  of  ships  that  have  never  returned,  seamen  have  said  that 
they  were  forced  by  storms  over  the  end  of  the  world. 

"But,  like  all  who  pass  to  the  shades  below,  they  could  not  return 
again  to  make  their  fate  known. 

"Whether  any  ship  has  ever  plunged  over  the  brink  of  the  world 
only  gods  can  know. 

"A  sailor's  story  also  tells  us  that  once  upon  a  time  their  ship  was 
driven  by  tide  and  storms  and  winds  so  near  to  the  end  of  the  world 
that  they,  from  the  ship's  mast,  could  already  see  the  vapors  arise  at 
the  end  of  the  world  and  plainly  hear  the  awful  roar  of  the  falling 
ocean  o'er  the  brink  of  the  world  into  the  deep  abyss  below.  Sea  mon 
sters  of  the  most  hideous  guise  roved  about  in  the  ocean  at  the  end 
of  the  world  in  vast  numbers,  as  large  in  size  as  their  ship,  and  some 
much  larger.  Some  had  great  norns  projecting  from  their  heads,  and 
also  had  long,  heavy,  waving  manes.  Any  one  of  the  powerful,  hideous 
monsters  could  have  capsized  their  ship;  but  it  is  thought  Neptune 
looked  at  them  with  compassion  and  in  the  nick  of  time  prompted  a 
monster  sea  serpent  to  rescue  the  ship  from  being  washed  over  the 
brink  of  the  world. 

"The  sea  monster,  with  its  powerful  jaws,  took  hold  of  a  stray  rope 
that  was  hanging  over  the  prow  of  the  ship  and  pulled  the  ship  far 
from  the  powerful  stream  of  ocean,  after  which  Aeolus  blew  a  fair 
gale,  and  thus  did  the  sea  rovers,  after  many  moons,  return  safely  to 
their  native  shore. 

"I  once  asked  Marathondes,  one  of  our  Nestors,  what  he  thought  of 
the  many  sailor  stories  of  having  sailed  near  to  and  having  beheld  the 
end  of  the  world.  He  answered,  'Sailors  who  are  lulled  to  sleep  by  the 
cradle  of  the  deep,  seem  to  dream  so  profoundly,  that  even  long  after 
they  are  awake  the  scenes  and  occurrences  that  were  so  vividly  por- 


322  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

trayed  in  their  dreams  make  them  believe  that  such  actually  were  real, 
true  facts.' 

"We  have  also  heard  of  the  story  of  a  noted  Captain  who  said,  upon 
returning  from  a  long  sea  voyage,  that  he  had  returned  from  a  trip  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  He  said  that  at  the  end  of  the  world  there  is 
something  like  a  dark,  heavy,  misty  wall,  or  curtain,  as  it  were.  And 
arriving  there  no  ship  could  proceed  any  further.  He  said,  at  or  near 
the  end  of  the  world  there  is  no  longer  any  distinction  between  air, 
earth  or  sea,  but  a  kind  of  a  mixture  of  all  three,  forming  a  substance 
resembling  a  thick,  glutinous  consistency,  rendering  all  navigation  and 
further  progress  of  the  ship  impossible. 

"Whether  any  of  the  various  sailor  stories  are  true  or  not,  the  gods 
alone  can  know.  The  majority,  and  most  profound  philosophers,  opine 
that  'vapors  ascend  at  the  end  of  the  earth.'  Fellow  adventurers,  now 
I  believe  I  have  told  you  more  than  I  really  know."  (Applause.) 

Hypnothoon's  lecture  as  to  how  things  were  at  the  utmost  bounds 
of  the  earth  was  listened  to  by  all  voyagers  with  close  attention.  Cap 
tain  Arteus  was  now  asked  what  he  thought  how  things  looked  at  the 
end  of  the  world. 

He  answered:  "The  distance  is  so  far  that  no  ship's  crew  would 
live  long  enough  to  sail  there.  The  heat  of  the  sun  near  the  end  of  the 
world  would  in  itself  kill  all  seamen." 

The  ship,  with  full  sails,  is  moving  only  fast  enough  to  keep  its 
bow  toward  the  west.  The  shores  to  the  north  are  just  visible. 

Diagorax  spoke  from  the  deck  as  follows:  "Fellow  sea  rovers,  if 
Aphrodite  (Venus)  and  her  lovely  son  and  messenger,  Cupid's  presence 
is  not  allowed  on  our  ship,  we,  however,  find  that  Pegasus  has  not  lost 
his  opportunity  to  accompany  us;  for  several  of  our  men  and  maiden 
voyagers  have  been  busy  and  have  compiled  a  version  of  the  end  of  the 
world  in  condensed  verse  form.  I  am  to  say  that  the  declaimers  have 
not  entirely  composed  the  verses  themselves  but  in  their  haste  have  in 
serted  suggestions  given  by  several  others  of  our  fellow  voyagers." 
(Applause.) 

Aurathone  ascended  the  rostrum  and  read: 

IF  WE  SHOULD  SAIL 

If  we  should  sail  where  Phoebus  sets, 
Where  at  the  brink  his  face  he  wets, 
To  rise  refreshed  and  bright  again, 
Illumining  all  the  world's  wide  plain — 
Our  ship  would  plunge,  O,  that  is  sure, 
With  Neptune's  rushing  waters  pure, 
Down  into  dark  unending  space, 
Forever  lost  to  this  world's  face. 
Our  ship  would  plunge  and  fall  and  fall, 


Philosophizing  on  Size  of  Sun,  Moon  and  Flat  Earth     323 

And  that  would  be  the  end  of  all 

Of  us;   and  falling  swift  and  deep 

Adown  the  world's  dark  end  so  steep. 

Our  ship  through  friction  soon  would  burn 

As  flame  and  smoke,  to  earth  return, 

Like  meteors  falling  in  the  night — 

That  burn  and  blaze — then  out  of  sight. 

Our  Athens  never  again  we'd  see, 

Such  dreadful  end  our  fate  would  be.  (Applause.) 

After  the  drinking  horns,  filled  with  clear,  pure  Grecian  wine  had 
been  passed  around  to  all  voyagers,  Salamistus  ascended  the  rostrum 
and  read  from  a  papyrus  scroll,  in  a  deep,  clear  voice,  with  great  de 
liberation,  as  follows: 

THE  WORLD 

No  thing  can  endlessly  extend; 

All  things,  we  know,  must  have  an  end ; 

And  if  a  ship  should  sail  and  sail, 

And  sail  and  sail,  and  sail  and  sail, 

At  last  'twould  reach  the  great  world's  end, 

Where  land  or  seas  and  skies  do  blend. 

Before  the  end  it  might  strike  land, 

According  as  the  Gods  have  planned. 

But  all  around  great  waters  pour 

The  world's  end  o'er,  with  awful  roar — 

Down,  down,  until  the  foaming  mist 

To  earth  arising,  doth  insist; 

For  nothing  from  this  earth  can  stray ; 

In  time  all  findeth  back  its  way. 

The  seas  of  falling  waters  wide 

That  plunge  deep  down  the  world's  dark  side 

Resolve  to  foam,  to  mist,  and  rise 

And  form  new  clouds  up  in  the  skies. 

The  freighted  clouds  with  purest  rain 

Float  o'er,  refresh  the  earth  again. 

Thus  endlessly,  from  time's  first  day, 

The  waters  fall  and  rise  and  play. 

The  deep  abyss  around  earth's  ends, 

Adown  which  ocean's  blue  descends. 

Allows  not  things  of  earth  to  stay, 

In  flame  or  mist  must  take  its  way 

Back  to  the  earth  without  delay. 

In  flame  like  meteors  in  the  night 

That  fall  and  blaze — then  out  of  sight. 

The  world  is  flat,  as  wise  men  know ;       • 

Around  it  circling  oceans  flow; 

And  if  a  ship  should  sail  and  sail, 

And  sail  and  sail,  and  sail  and  sail, 

It  might,  O,  sail  against  some  land 

That  others  say  lies  like  a  band; 

A  narrow  strip  just  at  the  brink 

Of  the  world's  edge,  so  others  think. 


324  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

So  ocean  circling  stream  can't  flow 
O'er  earth's  far  end,  as  others  know. 
The  wisest,  speaking  of  earth's  end, 
Say :    "Vapors  from  its  end  ascend." 
So  clouds  can  form  and  rain  refill 
Each  ocean,  river,  lake  and  rill ; 
And  to  refresh  the  thirsty  land, 
The  springs  and  plants  on  every  hand. 
So  'tis  quite  plain,  and  all  should  know, 
That  o'er  earth's  ends  the  oceans  flow. 
Thus  waters  come  and  waters  go, 
As  long  as  Gods  will  have  it  so, 
And  if  a  ship  should  sail  and  sail, 
And  sail  and  sail,  and  sail  and  sail, 
At  last  'twould  reach  the  great  world's  end, 
Where  oceans  blue  and  sky  do  blend. 
The  streams'  great  pow'r  then  would  insist 
And  draw  the  ship  down  in  the  mist 
Of  roaring  oceans  falling  wide, 
Adown  earth's  dark  abyssmal  side. 
Down,  down,  a  ship  would  fall  and  tumble 
Below  the  mist  and  ocean's  rumble ; 
Would  fall  and  fall  down  distant  space, 
Burn  into  flame — and  then  erase, — 
Just  like  a  flashing  meteor's  light 
Ablaze — and  all  again  is  night. 
Thus  into  space  the  ship  would  rise 
Beyond  the  trace  of  human  eyes. 

O,  such  would  be  the  direful  fate, 

Too  awful,  dreadful,  to  relate, 

Of  any  ship  upon  the  sea, 

That  would  sail  out  where  oceans  fall, 

For  that  would  be  the  end  of  all.  (Applause.) 

Scriborites :  The  ship  is  sailing  slowly,  as  if  it  don't  want  to  inter 
fere  with  the  reading  of  verses  that  treat  of  the  utmost  bounds  of  the 
earth.  Aeolus,  the  God  of  Winds,  perhaps  is  smiling,  while  listening 
to  the  ideas  we  mortals  have  of  the  end  of  the  world ;  for  Aeolus,  on  his 
high,  endless  wanderings,  knows  well  how  things  look  at  the  world's 
brink. 

Orientes  ascended  the  rostrum  and  read  from  a  papyrus  scroll  in  a 
sweet,  full  rounded,  very  distinct  voice,  as  follows : 

THE  SUN,  THE  HEART  OF  THE  WORLD 

• 

We  ask  where  does  bright  Phoebus  stay, 

Throughout  the  night,  when  he  is  away? 

The  warmth,  the  light,  the  life  of  all 

Earth's  creatures,  plants,  both  large  and  small. 

O,  as  from  out  a  fiery  heart 

His  rays  dart  forth  in  every  part 

Of  earth's  wide  plain,  and  freely  give 


Philosophizing  on  Size  of  Sun,  Moon  and  Flat  Earth     325 

Their  warmth  and  light  so  all  may  live 
And  see  the  beauties  of  the  world. 
On  land  and  sea,  in  sky  unfurled, 
The  heart  of  all  the  world  is  HE. 
His  rays  give  light  to  ine  and  thee. 
The  sun,  or  Phoebus,  is  his  name, 
The  words  to  us  are  all  the  same. 
We  ask  when  he  sets  in  the  west 
Where  does  he  rove?  where  does  he  rest? 
Our  great  philosophers,  profound, 
Whose  thoughts  revolve  around  and  round, 
Until  they  know  the  reasons  why 
Of  things  on  earth,  on  sea  and  sky, 
Have  taught  us,  each  and  every  one, 
Also  of  stars,  of  moon  and  sun, 
As  follows :   You'll  remember  all, 
Therefore  let  us  again  recall : 

The  sun  and  moon  are  near  one  size, 

That  best  is  seen  when  they  arise 

From  out  the  world's  dark,  deep  abyss, 

Near  seas  where  monstrous  serpents  hiss. 

The  sun,  moon,  stars,  set  in  the  west 

Because  the  Gods  so  think  it  best. 

The  dark  blue  vault  where  stars  do  shine 

Doth  speak  of  Pnoebus's  love  divine; 

The  stars  receive  from  him  their  light, 

So  they  can  shine  throughout  the  night. 

The  sun's  gold  chariot  down  earth's  sides 

Is  drawn  by  fiery  steeds  with  strides 

That  far  surpass  the  swallows'  flight; 

They  onward  speed  with  all  their  might 

Around  the  south  end  of  the  world, 

Ablazing  like  a  fire  ball  hurled 

By  Jove's  strong  hand  througn  distant  space ; 

And  thus  they  fly  and  onward  race 

Around  to  east,  to  Orient, 

Where  short  they  rest,  for  powers  spent. 

When  fair  Aurora's  rosy  hue 

Tells  us  his  rising  soon  is  due. 

Not  long,  O,  need  we  have  to  wait; 

And  Phoebus  bright,  in  regal  state, 

Steps  forth  from  fiery  portals  grand, 

With  crown  illumining  sea  and  land. 

'Tis  day !    All  life  has  come  to  light, 

From  restful  sleep  throughout  the  night. 

Thus  follow  day  and  night,  we  know, 

Because — the  Gods  will  have  it  so.  (Applause.) 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow 
voyagers,  we  know  that  in  certain  times  of  the  year  Phoebus  remains 
longer  in  the  blue  vault  above  than  at  other  times.  We  know  that 
there  are  longer  and  shorter  days.  In  some  time  further  back  than 


326  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ours,  mankind,  on  noticing  that  the  days  were  getting  shorter  and 
shorter,  were  seized  with  great  fear.  Noticing  that  the  sun's  presence 
in  the  blue  vault  above  was  constantly  growing  less  and  less,  the  dark 
ness  of  night  growing  longer  and  longer,  the  days  shorter  and  shorter 
and  shorter,  they  were  terrified  with  the  thought  that  Phoebus  in  time 
would  forsake  them  entirely  when  all  would  result  in  complete  dark 
ness,  ice  and  death.  In  time  it  became  known  that  there  was  a  short 
est  day  in  each  year.  That  from  the  shortest  day  on,  Phoebus  on  aris 
ing  would  again  gradually  lengthen  his  stay  in  the  blue  vault  above. 
Our  forefathers  and  mothers  designated  the  day  on  which  the  days 
begin  to  lengthen  as  a  great  festal  day  of  thanks  and  prayer  with  sacri 
fice  to  Phoebus,  Zeus  and  all  the  gods  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  for 
the  return  of  Phoebus,  the  heart  of  the  world,  as  Orientes  expressed 
herself. 

This  day  so  set  apart  by  our  sacred  ancestors  is,  as  we  all  know, 
also  our  most  prominent  day  of  thanks,  prayer  and  sacrifice.  And  so 
will  it  remain  among  the  wisest  of  mankind  for  all  time  to  come.  The 
point  at  which  Phoebus  ceases  to  increase  his  stay  of  absence  and  turns 
to  prolong  his  stay  in  the  blue  vault  again,  is  the  most  important  of 
events  to  mankind.  Therefore  do  we,  as  did  our  forefathers,  greet  his 
return  and  celebrate  the  great  festal  day  in  his  honor  with  thanks, 
prayer,  sacrifice  and  athletic  games,  songs,  dance  and  great  universal 
rejoicing.  Much  have  we  discoursed  on  Phoebus,  the  light  and  life  of 
the  world;  and  it  is  meet  and  fitting  that  we  conclude  with  giving 
thanks  and  sacrifice  to  'Phoebus,  the  heart  of  the  world,'  as  Orientes 
has  so  affectionately  addressed  him. ' ' 

With  a  deep,  clear  voice,  with  incense  arising  at  his  side,  Orato 
said: 

Since  Time  O  first  its  course  began, 

O,  sun!    O  warmest  friend  of  man — 

Thou,  great  source  of  light  and  life, 

Hast  in  all  lands,  without  vain  strife, 

Received  the  worship  of  the  wise 

Of  every  race,  for  human  eyes 

Cannot  behold  thy  glorious  rays 

Without  bestowing  thoughtful  praise. 

Thou  sets  apart  the  day  and  night, 

With  darkness  and  with  cheery  light; 

So  orders  time  for  work,  for  rest, 

For  so  the  Gods  have  thought  it  best. 

Without  Thee,  all  would  darkness  be, 

All  icy  cold,  and  life  would  flee. 

O  sun !   Like  millions  gone  before, 

Like  millions  when  we  are  no  more, 

We  thank  thee  in  our  living  day 

With  sacrifice  for  each  bright  ray, 

Until  we  also  pass  to  rest, 

Because  the  Gods  so  think  it  best. 


Is  the  Sun  Hot  or  Cold  327 

Aristogiton,  who  next  ascended  the  rostrum,  spoke  as  follows : 
Fellow  Searovers !  We  all  agree  with  the  opinions  expressed  in  re 
gard  to  the  flat  earth,  size  of  the  sun  and  moon,  and  the  manner  of 
the  sun's  rising  and  setting. 

As  you  have  called  on  me,  I  will  state  an  opinion  of  mine  held  even 
in  my  boyhood,  in  regard  to  the  sun. 

Here,  far  out  on  the  sea  beyond  the  hearing  of  our  philosophers, 
where  they  can  not  laugh  my  idea  to  scorn,  I  will  venture  to  explain 
the  opinion  I  hold  in  regard  to  the  sun's  consistency. 

1  can  not  expect  but  that  you  will  consider  me  quite  presumptuous 
in  entertaining  a  view  which  is  totally  at  variance  with  the  teachings 
of  our  philosophers. 

Although  the  sun  is  the  source  of  the  light  and  the  heat  of  the 
world,  my  belief  is  that  the  sun  itself  need  not  necessarily  be  a  glow 
ing  mass  of  fire.  In  my  opinion  THE  SUN  IS  COLD. 

I  can  more  readily  conceive  of  the  sun  being  a  cold  body,  than  an 
everlasting  burning  disc  or  ball  of  fire. 

Fire  consumes  and  changes  the  form  of  things. 

The  sun  since  the  memory  of  man  has  not  changed. 

This  sun  theory  of  mine  was  formed  on  noticing  the  heat  gener 
ated  by  throwing  cold  water  on  cold  lime. 

In  my  opinion  the  sun  is  not  necessarily  hot,  but  is  an  immense 
brilliant  body,  diffusing  light  throughout  the  world. 

Its  rays  are  formed  or  thrown  (like  cold  water  on  cold  lime)  down 
into  the  earth's  atmosphere.  The  commingling  or  piercing  of  the 
atmosphere  by  the  sun's  rays  causes  motion,  resistance,  which  pro 
duces  the  sun's  heat. 

The  more  direct  and  numerous  its  rays,  and  the  heavier  the  air, 
the  greater  the  heat. 

On  high  mountains  where  the  air  is  light,  although  nearer  to  the 
sun,  icy  coldness  prevails. 

Fellow  Adventurers !  I  could  give  many  more  reasons  for  this 
theory,  but  rather  advise  to  hold  to  the  teachings  of  the  philosophers. 

Whether  (Phoebus)  the  sun,  is  cold,  or  whether  he  is  a  glowing 
mass  of  fire,  we  will  never  cease  to  give  thanks  and  sacrifice;  and 
honor  ourselves  by  reverently  calling  him  "  Our  Warmest  Friend." 
(Applause.) 

The  musicians  on  the  ship  and  the  ship's  grand  "Four  Hundred" 
chorus,  concluded  by  singing  a  well-known  song  in  honor  of  Phoebus. 

Phoebus,  in  his  descent  in  the  west,  almost  seemed  to  pause  and 
smile  on  listening  to  the  many  words  of  praise  and  the  strong,  sweet, 
beautiful  music  that  resounded  far  over  the  sea.  The  night  scribe  is 
on  deck. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

ANAXOGEROUS  SCENTS  A  PLOT 

Anaxogerous : 

The  wind  is  fair  but  very  light  is  the  breeze.  Our  ship 
doesn't  seem  to  be  in  any  hurry  to  arrive  at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 
Several  of  the  voyagers  have  come  on  deck  and  are  fishing  in  the 
darkness  over  the  stern  of  the  ship.  It  is  only  an  excuse  for  being  on 
deck,  I  guess.  The  night  is  sultry  and  misty.  No  stars  are  in  sight. 
A  seaman  cries  out,  "Look  aloft.  Look  aloft!"  On  each  mast's  fur 
thermost  point  is  a  brilliant  light.  Hilicarus  orders  all  the  voyagers 
to  come  on  deck  if  they  wish  to  behold  Castor  and  Pollux.  The  voy 
agers  all  rush  on  deck  without  much  delay.  The  night  is  dark  and 
sultry  and  misty.  On  the  top  of  each  mast  is  a  light  like  a  blazing 
torch.  They  seem  to  move  higher  and  lower  at  times.  The  voyagers 
are  greatly  interested. 

Captain  Arteus  is  also  on  deck.  He  says  to  the  voyagers:  "Noble 
shipmates,  Castor  and  Pollux  have  alighted  on  our  ship.  Their  bril 
liant  presence  is  a  very  good  omen.  We  truly  all  have  a  right  to  re 
joice." 

The  voyagers  also  see  the  furthermost  point  of  the  ship's  bowsprit 
ornamented  in  the  darkness  of  night  by  a  ball  of  fire;  the  bright  lights 
on  bowsprit  and  masts  move  with  the  swaying  motion  of  the  ship. 
They,  after  remaining  for  the  greater  time  of  the  night,  disappeared 
and  all  voyagers  returned  to  their  quarters. 

Several  voyagers  have  remained  on  deck.  The  number  of  voyagers 
gathered  on  deck  nights  for  short  conversation  seems  to  be  growing. 
Captain  Arteus  and  Polybus  seem  to  hold  secret  meetings,  also  includ 
ing  Hilicarus,  second  in  command  of  the  ship.  Captain  Arteus,  Hili 
carus  and  Polybus  and  several  of  the  voyagers  seem  to  be  expressing 
their  dissatisfaction  on  some  matters  on  ship.  Although  they  are 
standing  together  close  to  me  the  rostrum  shields  us  from  each  other's 
view  in  the  darkness  of  the  misty  night.  But  I  can  plainly  hear  every 
word  of  their  conversation.  I  shall  keep  two  records.  One  shall  con 
tain  everything  I  hear  and  see;  and  the  other  shall  be  the  regular 
record  which  the  Committee  of  Rules  and  Order  can  demand  and  look 
over  at  any  time. 

They  are  all  talking  in  a  very  earnest,  determined  tone  of  voice. 

328 


Anaxogerous  Scents  a  Plot  329 


Captain  Arteus  says  they  have  been  talking  about,  "If  the  ship  should 
sail  and  sail  to  the  end  of  the  world  what  would  become  of  it?"  Such 
far,  high-reaching  ideas  fill  their  minds  and  shows  their  feeling  of 
superiority,  and  also  contempt  over  ordinary  mortals.  The  remark 
made  by  the  Voyagers'  Committee  that  it  was  time  for  them  to  take 
part  in  sailing  the  ship,  saying  they  could  sail  it  as  good  as  any  living 
mortal,  is  an  unforgiving  insult  to  me.  I  have  nothing  to  lose  on  this 
world.  The  only  one  I  ever  loved  is  lost  to  me,  and  I  also  would 
rather  many  time  be  lost  to  myself  than  return  back  to  Athens  again. 
I  would  delight  in  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world  if  it  were  not  for 
the  oath  I  have  taken.  In  my  youth  a  noted  soothsayer  predicted  that 
the  Fates  had  decreed  that  I  would  be  Captain  of  the  grandest  ship 
that  ever  would  or  could  be  built  by  mortal  man,  and  that  I  would 
sail,  and  sail  out  into  the  great  unknown  sea  further  than  any  seaman 
ever  had  or  ever  would  sail  again." 

"You  can  see,"  continued  Captain  Arteus,  "that  my  position  has  been 
humiliated  by  the  so-called  noble  voyagers  beyond  a  true  seaman's 
endurance.  O,  how  often,  when  thinking  of  my  lost  love,  have  I,  on 
looking  where  the  sky  and  waters  meet,  longed  to  sail  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  over  its  edge,  down  into  the  misty  abyss  of  destruction,  and 
thus  find  rest  for  my  aching,  repining  heart." 

Polybus,  the  ship's  magician,  spoke  up  and  said  (and  I  heard  every 
word  he  said)  :  "Captain  Arteus,  we  were  astounded  that  you  bore 
the  deep  insult  inflicted  upon  your  position  as  Captain — king  of  this 
ship,  by  the  voyagers.  Captain,"  continued  Polybus,  "there  are  at 
least  seven  of  the  ship's  voyagers  who  are  here  now,  myself  and  Hill- 
carus  also,  who  all  feel  and  agree  that  we  would  rather  sail  out  to  the 
utmost  bounds  of  the  world  than  to  sail  back  to  Athens,  upon  arriving 
at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  if  ever  we  arrive  there."  Polybus  contin 
ued  :  "If  we  wish  to  carry  out  our  plans  it  must  be  done  in  the  great 
est  secrecy.  Are  you  agreed  to  same?"  All  answered  in  a  very  em 
phatic,  determined  voice,  "Yes,  let  us  plan  for  and  sail  to  the  end  of 
the  world,  if  we  ever  arrive  at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules." 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Let  us  all  join  hands,  circle  around  three 
times,  as  a  joint  pledge  of  honor,  and  true  manhood,  to  keep  our  ways, 
manners  and  secret  plans  as  secure  from  the  knowledge  of  others  as 
if  we  were  one  man." 

I  will  not  inscribe  the  seven  voyagers'  names  on  the  secret  record 
scroll.  Hilicarus,  on  walking  away  to  one  side  of  the  ship,  noticed  that 
I  had  been  sitting  so  close  to  where  they  were  standing  that  I  must 
have  overheard  all. 

He  came  up  to  me  and  said  in  a  low  voice :  "Have  you  recorded  the 
Captain's  and  our  conversation?"  I  replied:  "Do  not  be  alarmed;  but 
let  me  also  belong  to  your  circle  of  secrecy,  for,  upon  listening  to  the 


330  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

lectures  on  the  end  of  the  world,  of  which  I  only  heard  a  very  small 
part,  as  I  must  rest  during  the  day,  below  deck,  I  immediately  thought, 
O,  if  our  ship  only  would  sail  over  the  brink  of  the  world,  for  I  can 
truly  say  that  my  lovesick  heart  will  only  find  rest  when  it  beats  no 
more." 

I  asked  Hilicarus  whether  he  would  not  ask  Captain  Arteus  to 
have  me  included  in  their  circle  of  secrecy.  Captain  Arteus,  and  all 
others,  I  found,  were  eager  to  have  me  join  their  circle,  and  all  joining 
hands  again,  we  all  circled  around  three  times,  signifying  that  our 
secret  plan  of  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world  should  be  kept  as  if  it 
were  one  man. 

Polybus  said:  "There  are  different  reasons  for  doing  the  same 
thing.  Captain  Arteus  has  two  reasons  why  interest  in  life  is  a  blank 
to  him.  We  saw  the  beautiful,  noble  looking  lady  from  our  ship  at 
Pylos  as  she  threw  her  arms  around  Captain  Arteus.  She  only  con 
sented  to  marry  the  rich  Pylosian  after  being  told  that  Captain  Arteus 
beyond  all  doubt  had  found  a  watery  grave  in  the  storm  that  over 
whelmed  so  many  fishing  ships.  Even  then  we  can  know  that  she 
hesitated  to  become  the  rich,  wandering  Polysian  merchant's  wife.  But 
the  sketch  which  he  showed  her  of  his  fine  castle,  and  fine  silk  and 
ornaments  of  gold  and  sparkling  jewels  moved  her  hesitatingly  to 
accept  him.  Thus  was  it  again  a  golden  key,  as  it  were,  that  unlocked 
the  door  to  her  chamber  for  life.  Secondly,  the  desire  of  a  majority  of 
voyagers  to  take  part  in  sailing  the  ship,  in  a  degree  taking  command 
of  the  ship,  is  an  insult  to  Captain  Arteus  beyond  all  endurance." 

Polybus  continued:  "I  will  give  you  my  innermost  reasons  why  I 
would  rather  sail  over  the  end  of  the  world  than  sail  back  to  Athens. 
Fellow  sufferers,  I  am  a  magician,  seer,  and  diviner,  and  it  is  true  that 
I  am  in  some  respects  favored  and  especially  gifted  of  the  gods.  But 
in  a  larger  sense  I  am  a  human  being  just  as  you  are.  I  have  eyes, 
ears,  taste,  feeling,  desires,  and  am  moved  by  human  beauty  beyond 
my  control  just  as  are  other  mortals.  I  can  see  further  on  land,  sea  or 
in  the  sky  than  other  mortals,  that  is  true;  but  it  is  not  with  my  eyes 
alone;  I  have  something  to  aid  me.  The  gods  have  gifted  me  with  a 
very  sensitive  nature,  and  I  can  read  the  thoughts  and  intentions  and 
discern  the  different  leanings  of  mortals  keenly.  Besides  that,  I  have 
made  a  study  of  them.  I  could  have  performed  many  more  entertain 
ing  and  surprising  feats  and  performances,  could  have  hypnotized  all 
more  frequently  than  I  did.  But  I  soon  discovered  that  the  greater 
the  variety  of  performances,  the  greater  grew  the  aversion  against  me 
by  the  voyagers;  but  especially  the  maidens.  Upon  passing  near  them 
their  general  bearing  and  looks  are  as  if  they  are  afraid  of  me.  When 
ever  I  walk  in  a  direction  toward  them  they  hastily  step  back  and  look 
so  frightened  as  if  a  wild  bull  was  coming  their  way. 


Anaxogerous  Scents  a  Plot  331 

"I  heard  one  of  the  maidens  say,  in  great  fright,  'O,  he  has  the  wis 
dom  of  a  snake.  They  seem  to  look  at  me  with  alarm,  fearful  that  I  might 
perform  some  harmful  trick.  The  simplest  magic  only  have  I  performed 
so  far.  And  as  they  appear  to  be  in  great  dread  that  I  am  in  league 
with  dangerous  evil  demons,  I  have  ceased  to  perform  magical  arts 
altogether,  and  have  striven  to  be  only  as  a  voyager.  For  thus  I  hoped 
that  they  would  not  be  in  fear  that  I  might  bewitch  them.  They  all 
fear  to  look  into  my  eyes,  and  in  my  presence  always  look  away 
from  me. 

"Now,  as  I  said,  I  am  on  the  whole  only  a  human  being,  and  am 
not  unmindful  of  the  beautiful  maidens'  charms.  I  am  deeply  in  love 
with  one  of  them.  Now,  as  a  magician,  I  ought  not  so  to  be;  but  I 
pray  do  not  blame  me,  but  blame  the  gods  for  having  so  created  me. 
I  have  laid  my  magic  aside  and  tried  to  gain  her  confidence,  but  im 
possible.  She,  like  all  the  rest,  and  even  more  so,  whenever  I  pass 
near,  is  ready  to  flee  from  my  sight.  While  quite  unobserved,  I  once 
said  to  her  with  the  fullness  of  my  heart : 

With  all  thy  beauty,  with  all  thy  charms, 
Come,  fall  into  my  anxious  arms. 

"She  immediately  fled  below  decks  and  remained  out  of  sight  for  a 
long  while,  always  looking  at  me  from  a  distance,  as  if  I  were  a  demon 
in  human  form.  I  know  she  would  rather  jump  into  the  sea  than  to 
allow  me  to  talk  to  her  or  take  her  by  the  hand ;  and,  as  they  all  look 
at  me  and  act  as  if  I  were  a  wild  beast  or  demon  in  disguise,  I  feel 
that  my  aching  heart  can  never  again  find  rest  until  it  ceases  to  beat. 
Therefore  my  great  longing  to  sail  over  the  end  of  the  world,  to  attain 
to  which  end  I  can  and  will  use  my  gifts  of  magic." 

One  of  the  other  voyagers  said:  "If  the  finesse  of  a  magician 
cannot  gain  their  hearts,  there  is  not  much  hope  for  anyone  towards 
whom  they  have  no  leaning." 

Polybus  asked  Captain  Arteus  whether  he  thought  we  would  ever 
be  able  to  sail  so  far  as  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Captain  Arteus  said : 
"No  seaman  has  ever  sailed  so  far  and  we  cannot  know  how  far  distant 
it  is.  A  small  ship  would  be  overwhelmed  by  storms  before  ever  get 
ting  anywhere  near  it.  Our  grand  ship  must  also  brave  many  storms 
before  arriving  there,  but  I  believe  after  many  moons'  sailing  we  would 
arrive  at  the  verge  of  the  world.  Secrecy  is  our  watchword.  We  all 
must  do  our  best  toward  that  end.  My  actions  and  moods  will  at  times 
likely  appear  as  if  I  was  forgetting  our  secret  compact.  But  let  not 
that  deter  any  of  you  from  planning  toward  our  common  desired  end." 

Anaxogerous : 

To  be  short,  our  seven  voyagers,  myself,  and  Hilicarus  felt 
highly  dissatisfied  with  matters  as  they  were  on  ship  and  admitted 


332  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

that  on  account  of  unrequited  love,  to  which  were  added  disdain 
and  downright  insult,  we  all  hailed  the  proposed  secret  conspiracy  to 
suggest  to  the  voyagers  that  our  ship  sail  out  on  the  unknown  seas,  if 
we  ever  should  arrive  at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

Polybus  has  judged  the  maiden's  feeling  against  him  correctly.  I 
heard  several  of  the  maidens  say  that  our  ship's  magician  and  sooth 
sayer  looked  through  his  heavy,  long,  brown  eyelashes,  with  trickish 
scheming,  and  twinkling,  mischievous  eyes. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Fellow  sufferers,  it  plainly  seems  we  are 
all  really  in  the  same  boat.  Life  to  me,  as  you  all  well  know,  lost  its 
hopes  and  charms  many  moons  ago.  And  in  such  a  state  it  does  not 
require  much  to  make  me  desire  the  end  of  all  things.  Woman,  O 
woman.  The  fair  Helen,  nations  warred  for  and  countless  heroes  fell 
upon  the  battlefield  in  the  full  flush  of  youth  and  manhood.  But  the 
Fates  decree  that  it  shall  ever  be  thus. 

"And  upon  this  trip,  with  the  most  beautiful  women  of  the  world, 
beyond  expression  and  beyond  all  comparison,  it  is  little  wonder  that 
some  of  the  bravest  hearts  must  bleed  for  want  of  responsive  love. 
My  love,  although  alive,  is  dead  to  me  forever.  If  I  were  a  landsman, 
and  not  a  seaman,  I  would  do  as  many  a  true,  noble-hearted  man  has 
done:  I  would  throw  my  life  away  in  battle.  I  would  rush  to  join 
the  ranks  of  noble  warriors  and  push  forward  with  the  foremost  in  the 
thickest  of  battle  to  charge  the  catapult  and  die  a  glorious  death  for 
some  noble  cause. 

"But  as  I  am  a  seaman,  whose  eyes,  since  my  youth,  have  beheld  the 
far  distant  blending  of  seas  and  skies,  it  is  more  fitting  as  a  true  sea 
farer  that  I  seek  my  death  by  sailing  out  on  the  vast  unknown  ocean 
over  the  end  of  the  world.  Then,  and  only  then,  will  my  love-laden 
heart,  that  is  fated  to  seek  no  response  among  the  living,  find  its  long 
hoped  for  rest." 

Hilicarus  said:     "Aurora  is  announcing  the  coming  of  day." 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "It  is  well  for  all  of  us  to  return  to  our 
quarters  and  remain  as  far  apart  as  possible,  so  as  to  forestall  sus 
picion." 

Phoebus  is  gilding  a  golden  path  directly  towards  our  ship  over  the 
rippling  morning  sea.  The  day  scribe  is  here  to  relieve  ma 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  PILLARS  OF  HERCULES!    THE  PILLARS  OF  HERCULES! 

Scriborites : 

Still  dreamingly  is  our  ship  wafting  toward  the  west.  The 
watch  on  the  mast  calls  down,  "Pillars  of  Hercules!  Pillars  of  Her 
cules!  To  the  West!" 

Captain  Arteus  is  called.  He  and  Polybus  have  come  on  deck.  Cap 
tain  Arteus  has  gone  up  the  mast. 

Polybus,  with  his  superior  vision,  says:  "Yes,  there  is  an  opening 
into  the  unknown  sea.  On  each  side  of  the  opening  are  the  Pillars  of 
Hercules." 

Captain  Arteus  has  come  down  on  deck  again. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Noble  voyagers,  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  the 
seaman's  furthest  westerly  bounds,  are  now  in  sight." 

Wild  shouting  and  rejoicing  followed  this  announcement.  Captain 
Arteus  ordered  the  hoisting  of  all  flags. 

The  ship's  musicians  and  the  ship's  full  Four  Hundred  chorus  sang 
to  a  well-known  Grecian  tune: 

THE  PILLARS  OF  HERCULES 

The  Pillars  of  Hercules,  rocks  of  the  land, 

To  north  and  to  south,  enduring  they  stand, 

On  shores  where  straits  of  Herculeum  flow, 

To  seas  of  which,  O,  little  we  know. 

The  furthermost  west,  the  Pillars  do  mark, 

Beyond  all's  mysterious,  dang'rous  and  dark ; 

No  seaman  dare  brave  the  dark  threatening  wave, 

Where  storms  and  whirlpools  and  monsters  do  rave. 

The  voyagers,  in  order  to  get  the  best  view  of  the  water  that  con 
nects  the  Mediterranean  with  the  great  unknown  ocean  and  of  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  have  crowded  the  masts  up  to  their  very  tops.  The 
maidens  were  given  the  preference  and  are  occupying  the  highest  points 
on  each  mast.  Great  cheering  and  rejoicing  on  masts  and  on  deck  re 
sounds  far  over  the  waters.  Incense  is  arising  from  two  censers  swing 
ing  at  the  furthermost  point  of  our  ship's  bowsprit.  From  the  bright 
bronze  tripod  at  Orato's  side  on  the  rostrum,  incense  is  also  ascending. 
Orato,  surrounded  by  the  voyagers,  excepting  those  on  the  masts, 
prayed:  "O,  Zeus,  god  of  gods,  O,  Neptune,  god  of  the  sea,  O,  Aeolus, 

333 


334  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

god  of  the  winds.  Ye  have  this  day  filled  our  eyes  and  our  hearts  with 
delight,  for  ye  have  vouchsafed  unto  us  this  day  the  great  honor  of 
beholding  the  Pillars  of  Hercules — the  westermost  limit  to  which  man 
should  attain  in  his  wanderings  on  Neptune's  liquid  realm.  O,  ye  gods, 
our  helplessness  in  storms  and  our  knowledge  of  your  omnipotence 
makes  it  plain  to  us  that,  not  only  through  the  great  size  of  our  ship, 
nor  because  of  our  Captain's  and  seamen's  diligence  have  we  achieved 
success,  for  above  all  and  around  all  prevails  your  guiding  and  protect 
ing  favors  without  which  our  grand  ship  would  be  as  a  leaf  blown  by 
the  winds.  O,  Zeus !  O,  Neptune !  O,  Aeolus !  we  humbly  thank  ye 
for  having  been  privileged  to  attain  to  the  seafarers'  utmost  westerly 
limits,  and  pray,  O,  may  the  curling  incense  ascend  to  your  high  abode 
and  be  as  sweet  savor  unto  thee." 

Our  ship,  with  all  sails  set  and  flags  waving,  is  now  sailing  along 
the  shore  of  the  grand,  high,  rocky  north  Pillar  of  Hercules.  On  the 
opposite  shore  to  the  south  appears  to  view  the  southern  Pillar  of 
Hercules.  These  Pillars  of  Hercules  mark  the  western  limits  of  Med 
iterranean  seafarers.  Beyond  is  the  dangerous,  great  unknown  ocean. 
Our  ship  is  now  rounding  the  southermost  point,  Calpe  (Europa  Point), 
at  the  foot  of  the  Pillar,  and  is  sailing  north  into  a  bay. 

Our  ship  is  now  landing  at  the  head  of  the  bay.  The  Pillar  of 
Hercules'  rocks  is  towering  above  us  to  the  east.  Our  Landing  Com 
mittee  has  gone  on  shore.  Two  small  sail  ships  are  moored  along  shore 
in  the  bay  at  a  close  distance  from  our  ship.  Captain  Arteus  and 
second  in  command,  Hilicarus,  say  the  ships  are  surely  Phoenician 
Bhips.  Captain  Arteus  has  advised  our  Landing  Committee  and  all  on 
shipboard  to  be  very  careful  to  greet  and  meet  the  Phoenician  sea 
farers  all  with  the  greatest  of  respect  and  as  real  friends. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "We  call  those  ships  small,  comparing  them 
with  our  great  ship,  built  by  the  gods.  But  they  are  large  ships  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Phoenicians,  and  larger  than  any  ships  we  ever  beheld,  ex 
cepting  our  own.  The  Phoenicians  would  capture  us  or  destroy  us  if 
it  were  not  for  the  size  of  our  ship.  They  cannot  but  be  surprised; 
and  envy  and  anger  is  no  doubt  stirring  their  minds  and  hearts,  for 
we  well  know  since  time  immemorial,  the  Phoenicians  have  been  rulers 
of  the  sea." 

The  Committee  of  Landing  has  returned  on  deck.  Theognis  reports 
from  the  rostrum :  "Fellow  voyagers,  we  find  that  Phoenician  ships 
sail  to  these  shores.  In  the  small  town  on  yonder  chore  are  no  more 
than  a  few  hundred  people,  most  all  of  whom  understand  the  Phoeni 
cian  language.  We  met  several  of  the  Phoenician  seafarers.  They 
said  that  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  they  had  sighted  us  far  out  at 
sea.  They  asked  us  where  such  a  colossal  ship  hailed  from.  We  told 
them  from  Athens,  a  city  friendly  to  Phoenicia.  One  of  the  leaders 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!     The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    335 

spoke  up  and  said,  in  somewhat  of  a  demanding  tone:  *Has  your  ship 
received  permission  from  the  King  of  Tyre  or  of  Sidon  to  traffic  on 
these  waters?' 

"We  answered  that  it  was  purely  an  Athenian  adventure. 

"He  answered:  'This  much  we  know:  however  large  your  ship,  or 
however  wise  or  brave  Athenians  may  be,  they  are  not  fit  for  true 
seamen.' 

"The  leader,  a  captain,  I  believe,  said:  'We  are  ready  and  going  to 
sail  on  our  return  trip  to  Tyre,  this  day.'  Then  they  walked  to  their 
ships." 

Captain  Arteus  spoke  up  and  said:  "I  do  not  believe  that  they  will 
sail  direct  for  Tyre;  but  I  believe  they  will  sail  to  the  Phoenician  city 
of  Carthage,  situated  on  the  south  shore  of  the  Mediterranean.  That 
city  is  powerful  in  the  possession  of  many  ships  and  is  not  nearly  so 
far  distant  as  Tyre.  There  these  ships  will  make  our  presence  here 
known  and  we  can  expect  upon  our  return  voyage,  if  they  sight  us,  to 
meet  them  in  a  furious  battle.  But  perhaps  they  will  not  be  able  to 
Bight  us." 

Theognis  said:  "I  can  understand  and  converse  with  these  people 
on  shore  and  find  out  all  about  Phoenician  traffic.  The  town's  name  is 
Calphus."  The  man  on  the  mast,  who  is  always  on  the  outlook  in 
port  or  on  sea,  calls  down,  "The  Phoenician  ships  are  sailing  out  of  the 
bay!"  And  so  it  was.  The  two  ships  were  sailing  out  on  their  return 
to  Tyre  or  Carthage.  They  made  not  the  least  sign  of  having  no 
ticed  us. 

The  Committee  of  Commerce,  and  a  large  number  of  voyagers  under 
command  of  Marstenes  are  going  on  shore.  A  number  of  people  are 
on  the  shore  near  the  ship's  wharf.  The  King,  his  nobles  and  warriors 
are  well  equipped  with  bows,  spears,  and  also  have  large,  well-made 
catapults.  Demonstrations  of  friendship  are  made  by  maidens  present 
ing  beautiful  flowers  to  the  maidens  of  our  ship.  The  King  and  nobles 
on  horse  lead  our  voyagers  to  the  athletic  field  close  by,  which  is  well 
situated  and  arranged,  very  likely  through  the  aid  and  advice  of  the 
Phoenicians. 

The  King's  castle  is  situated  on  elevated  ground,  fortified  by  a 
strong,  high,  stone  wall,  to  which  entrance  no  doubt  will  be  made 
under  the  walls,  as  no  gates  can  be  seen.  A  number  of  people  can  be 
seen  studying  our  ship  and  people  from  the  turrets  of  the  castle. 

Phoenician  influence  springs  to  view  in  all  things,  in  the  instru 
ments  of  war,  in  dress  and  also  in  the  houses  of  the  people. 

The  King  and  his  nobles  dismounted  from  their  horses  and  took 
their  seats  in  the  center  of  the  stand  of  a  long  row  of  seats ;  each  side 
of  which  was  filled  with  spectators. 

Leone    had    been    chosen    to    address  the   King.     She  spoke  in  a 


336  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

sweet,  clear,  round  voice,  and  said :  "Noble  King  Tyriostos,  in  the  name 
of  our  beloved  city  of  Athens,  we  greet  you  and  your  brave  people  with 
the  true  feeling  of  Athenian  friendship.  (Applause.)  Long  has  been 
our  voyage  cm  Neptune's  swaying  realm.  Through  the  favor  of  the  gods 
we  have  this  day  arrived  at  our  much  desired  goal,  the  Pillars  of  Her 
cules — the  westernmost  limit  of  the  boldest  of  seafarers.  (Applause.) 
The  fame  of  the  grand,  everlasting  Pillars  of  Hercules  is  known  as  far 
as  the  East  is  from  the  West.  (Applause.)  Many,  O  many,  must  have 
been  the  bold,  daring  sea-rovers  that  with  undaunted  determination 
started  on  their  voyages  with  a  hope  and  a  desire  of  reaching  and 
sighting  the  eternal  Pillars  that  stand  at  the  furthermost  western  limits 
of  seamanship ;  but  they  were  forced  to  turn  back  or  found  an  untimely 
rest  in  the  ever  open,  ever  closed,  ocean  grave.  Not  the  grandness  of 
our  ship,  O,  noble  King,  nor  seamanship  alone  have  given  us  the  opportu 
nity  to  stand  before  you  this  day  and  greet  you  in  true  Athenian  friend 
ship;  but  the  gods  it  was,  who  bestowed  such  a  great  favor  upon  us. 
Our  thanks,  prayers,  and  sacrifices  will  attest  to  our  appreciation  of 
their  great  beneficence  in  that  behalf. 

"Our  eyes  inform  us  that  we  are  in  a  city,  on  a  shore  whose  noble 
King  and  valiant  people  are  among  the  favored  of  the  earth.  Noble 
King  Tyriostos,  we  come  in  peace,  not  war.  Our  object  is  friendship 
and  commerce.  We  come  to  join  in  athletic  games,  sports,  the  dance 
and  song,  and  thus  to  feel  that  all  mankind  are  brothers  and  sisters 
regardless  of  the  height  of  mountains  or  the  distance  of  land  or  width 
of  seas  that  lie  between  our  native  countries.  (Applause.) 

"In  Athens  a  saying  is  that  women  should  not  speak  at  length,  there 
fore  I  will  only  say  that  the  gift  of  the  Goddess  Flora  presented  to  us 
maidens  by  the  maidens  of  Calphus  upon  placing  our  feet  upon  your 
renowned  shore,  touched  our  hearts  deeply."  (Applause.) 

Leone  walked  up  to  the  King-  and  presented  a  large,  burnished 
medal  to  him,  saying :  "Your  Highness,  King  Tyriostos,  in  the  name  of 
Athens,  in  the  name  of  all  voyagers,  I  present  to  you  this  medal,  which 
was  fashioned  by  one  of  our  most  noted  Athenian  artist  engravers,  after 
the  description  given  by  a  Phoenician  of  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  You'll 
recognize  the  Pillars,  straits  of  Herculeum,  and  the  great  unknown 
seas  beyond." 

King  Tyriostos  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  accepted  the  medal 
with  thanks,  held  her  by  the  hand  and  kissed  Leone,  who  struggled  back 
without  delay.  He  can  truly  boast  in  saying  that  he  kissed  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  maidens  in  the  world. 

Leone  concluded:  "In  the  name  of  all  the  voyagers  of  our  ship 
Aeolus  we  thank  your  highness,  King  Tyriostos,  the  noble  maidens  and 
all  the  people  of  Calphus  for  all  the  evidences  of  true  friendship  exist 
ing  on  all  sides.  (Applause.) 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    337 

"One  of  the  nobles  arose  and  said,  in  the  Phoenician  language :  "King 
Tyriostos  appointed  me  to  say  that  at  the  close  of  the  games  he  will 
also  have  the  pleasure  of  addressing  you.  Noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  at  present  he  would  be  pleased  if  you  would  join  with  his  people 
in  games  such  as  are  both  common  to  Athenian  and  Calphusians. 

"Running,  casting  of  the  discus,  pole  climbing,  archery,  and  lance 
throwing  were  the  principal  games  engaged  in.  All  the  games  could 
have  been  won  by  our  voyagers  easily ;  but  intentionally,  playing  without 
effort  in  most  of  the  games,  the  Calphusians  turned  out  victors." 

At  the  close  of  the  banquet,  after  several  of  our  voyagers  had  spoken, 
King  Tyriostos  arose  and  said :  "Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens ;  this 
eventful,  joyous,  Athenian-Calphusian  festal  day  will  be  agreeably  re 
membered  until  the  last  of  our  days.  It  will  be  retold  to  Calphusians 
again  and  again.  The  presence  of  your  wonderful  ship,  with  its  beau 
tiful,  brilliant  flags,  waving  from  each  of  its  four  grand  masts, 
and  its  beautifully  painted  sails,  in  itself  gives  to  our  city  a  festal  day 
appearance.  Unto  many  moons  will  our  people  speak  of  the  wonder 
ship  that  landed  at  our  shore,  and  the  strong,  stalwart,  brave,  superior, 
god-like  race  of  people  with  whom  Calphusians  had  the  honor  and  great 
pleasure  to  mingle  in  games,  song  and  dance.  (Applause.) 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  most  of  our  people  have  never  heard  of  your 
beloved  Athens,  because  it  is  so  far  distant.  From  our  Phoenician 
friends,  who  have  trafficked  with  our  city  since  endless  moons,  have  I 
at  times  heard  of  Grecians  and  Athenians.  With  great  praise  did  they 
speak  of  Athens,  giving  one  the  impression  that  its  people  were  above 
common  mortals,  noble,  brave  and  wise.  We  had  but  a  very  dim 
knowledge  of  Athens ;  but  this  day  the  mist  that  surrounded  the  names 
of  Greece  and  Athens  has  disappeared  from  view.  Of  many  lands, 
have  the  Phoenicians  often  spoken  with  hatred,  but  of  Greece  and  of 
Athens  always  with  respect.  Now  we  see  and  behold  the  reasons  there 
of.  Truly  great  must  be  the  country  in  which  that  great  ship  was  built, 
and  a  god-like,  superior  race  of  people  must  dwell  in  the  land  from 
which  it  sailed.  We  can  believe  that  its  voyage  is  one  of  peace,  not 
one  of  war.  For  the  ship  itself  presents  a  festal  day  and  not  a  war 
like  appearance.  Also  the  freedom  with  which  you  mingle  in  our 
games  indicates  that  your  voyage  is  not  a  warlike  one. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  the  large  number  of  maidens,  whose  beauty 
of  person  and  nobility  of  countenance  beyond  expression,  show  that 
your  great  adventure  is  not  intent  on  war.  Any  one  of  them  is  worthy 
to  battle  for;  yet  would  no  true  man  allow  the  maidens  themselves  to 
share  in  the  dangers  of  war  wantonly. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  I  also  address  you  as  friends, 
although  after  I  have  expressed  myself  and  explained  all,  you  may 
perhaps  not  look  upon  me  and  my  people  as  such.  This  festal  day  is 


338  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

a  great  surprise  to  us,  for  with  no  people  are  we  supposed  to  mingle 
in  friendship,  excepting  with  the  Phoenicians,  whose  language  most 
of  us  can  speak,  and  who  have  trafficked  here  even  since  the  days  of 
our  forefathers.  If  we  did  not  hold  the  belief  that  Athens  and  Phoe 
nicia  were  not  open  enemies  to  each  other  we  could  not  have  allowed 
your  ship  to  lie  in  this  Phoenician  bay  nor  allow  the  ship's  voyagers  to 
tread  upon  what  we  may  call  Phoenician  soil.  Phoenicians  traffic  with 
inland  cities  from  here  and  return  to  Carthage  or  Tyre  or  Sidon  laden 
with  all  kinds  of  valuable  wares.  They  tell  us  that  many  cities  have 
they  built  on  distant  coasts.  Carthage  have  they  also  built,  and  our 
city  also. 

"The  Phoenicians  were  the  true  friends  of  our  fathers  and  also 
are  they  our  true  friends  in  war,  in  peace,  and  in  traffic — commerce. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  you  have  come  in  peace  and  for 
commerce.  As  friends  we  must  explain  that  our  commerce  all  be 
longs  to  the  Phoenicians.  If  it  were  otherwise  it  all  would  end  in  war 
and  bloodshed.  Phoenicians  are  brave,  dauntless,  seafaring  people, 
such  as  have  no  equal. 

"You  have  seen  the  two  Phoenician  ships  that  sailed  away  from 
here  today.  The  Phoenicians  said  to  us  that  from  the  top  of  the 
Pillar  of  Hercules  they  saw  a  great  ship  sailing  close  to  the  shore. 
They  said  no  flag  or  sign  did  it  show  that  it  was  a  Phoenician  ship. 
They  said  it  had  many  brilliant  flags  waving  but  that  the  ship  was  a 
stranger.  They  knew  it  was  a  ship  from  some  strange  land,  and  ad 
mitted  that  their  two  ships  could  not  fight  or  capture  it  on  account 
of  its  wonderful  size,  especially  if  it  carried  as  many  men  as  its  size 
would  indicate.  The  brave  Phoenicians  have  a  certain  right  to  the 
sea.  Streams  of  blood  have  run  on  ship  decks  and  many  a  ship  have 
they  destroyed  or  captured  that  tried  to  traffic  on  our  bay.  The  two 
ships  that  sailed  out  will  make  the  presence  of  your  grand  Athenian 
ship  known  with  the  greatest  speed  possible  in  Carthage  and  all  other 
Phoenician  cities  along  the  coast,  including  Tyre  and  Sidon.  We  wish 
you,  O  noble  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  a  propitious  return  voyage;  but 
we  fear  that  the  combined  strength  of  numbers  of  Phoenician  ships 
which  will  be  trying  to  find  you,  cannot  but  call  forth  a  deadly  combat. 
May  I  speak  plainly?  If  it  were  not  for  the  large  number  of  comely  and 
noble  maidens  of  your  grand  ship  I  would  not  warn  you  of  the  dan 
gers  before  you  as  I  now  do.  I  am  not  speaking  as  the  Phoenicians 
would  want  me  to  speak;  for  I  have  explained  it  as  if  talking  to 
friends.  They  desire  to  be  our  only  friends.  They  have  made  it  plain 
to  us  that  it  is  best  for  us  to  have  them  only  as  friends  in  traffic. 
They  attack,  destroy,  or  capture  every  ship  that  comes  here  from  any 
other  shore  for  commerce.  As  the  sun  is  inclining  towards  the  western 
end  of  the  world,  I  only  wish  to  say  that  we  all  will  remember  the 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !    339 

joy  of  this  Athenian-Calphusian  festal  day,  with  the  advice  not  to  re 
main  until  many  Phoenician  ships  arrive;  for  we  do  not  wish  to  have 
the  waters  of  our  bay  mingled  with  the  blood  of  our  Athenian  and 
Phoenician  friends.  Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens!  may  you  all 
speedily  return  without  combat  to  your  great  Athens  again.  That  is 
my  wish  and  the  wish  of  all  my  people."  (Slight  applause.) 

Marstenes  arose  and  said:  "King  Tyriostos,  we  thank  you  for  your 
plain  words  and  your  people  for  the  pleasure  of  this  beautiful  festal 
day.  King  Tyriostos,  our  ship  is  on  a  voyage  of  friendship  and  peace. 
But  any  attack  against  our  designs  will  be  fearlessly  combatted  to  the 
last  drop  of  Athenian  blood,  on  sea  or  on  land.  (Great  applause  by 
all  voyagers.)  It  remains  yet  to  be  seen  whether  Phoenicia  is  to  re 
main  the  monarch  of  the  sea." 

With  music  and  song,  accompanied  by  the  King,  nobles  and  people, 
the  procession  marched  to  the  ship's  wharf,  where  the  maiden  voy 
agers  were  presented  with  flowers  by  young  men  and  the  young  men 
voyagers  presented  with  flowers  by  the  maidens  of  Calphus,  upon  which 
all  voyagers  returned  aboard  the  ship. 

Emporiacles,  of  the  Committee  of  Commerce,  spoke  from  the  rostrum 
as  follows:  "Fellow  voyagers,  this  city  is  fully  under  the  control  of 
Phoenician  merchants.  Its  King  has  been  named  Tyriostos  in  honor 
of  the  city  of  Tyre  by  its  merchants.  The  people  dare  not  in  the  least 
barter  with  the  people  of  any  other  land.  The  barterers  spoke  plainly 
and  said  trading  with  other  distant  people  was  punished  by  death. 
Our  ship,  they  said,  would  be  attacked  by  Phoenician  ships  if  it  re 
mained  until  they  came  in  large  numbers.  They  gave  us  these  golden 
nuggets  as  a  gift.  Such,  they  say,  Tyrian,  Sidonian  and  Carthagenian 
merchants  barter  for  in  large  quantities.  We  asked  them  where  the 
gold  mines  were.  They  said  they  did  not  know,  but  they  were  far 
away.  On  questioning  further,  we  found  out  that  the  gold  was  from 
Tarshish. 

"They  said  they  did  not  know  where  Tarshish  was;  but  we  are 
quite  certain  Tarshish,  from  which  the  Tyrians  get  their  gold,  is  not 
far  from  here.  At  present  the  personnel  of  our  ship  is  such  as  not  to 
allow  us  to  seek  combat,  but  upon  our  return  to  Athens  our  ship,  with 
warriors  only,  should  at  once  return  here  and  with  determination  dis 
cover  Tarshish — the  source  of  Tyrinian  and  Sidonian  gold.  As  I  have 
already  said,  we  find  that  we  cannot  barter  with  the  traders  here 
unless  with  armed  force,  which  is  not  the  intention  of  this  first  voy 
age." 

I  understood  from  one  of  the  traders  that  the  true  name  of  their 
town  is  not  Calphus.  But  we  can  find  here  again,  for  we  know  it  lies 
in  a  small  bay  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Pillar  of  Hercules. 

Hypnothoon  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said :    "It  has  been  agreed 


340  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

by  all  voyagers  that  the  ship  remain  here  several  days  and  in  the  mean 
time  perhaps  sail  back  and  forth  before  the  Pillars  of  Hercules." 

The  ship's  wharf  planks  are  hauled  on  deck  and  the  time  is  draw 
ing  near  for  the  dreams  of  night. 

Anaxogerous,  night  scribe : 

Darkness  is  o'er  land  and  sea.  Little  will  there  be  to  record 
this  night,  the  ship  lying  at  its  moorings.  It  is  now  past  mid 
night.  Captain  Arteus,  Hilicarus,  and  seven  voyagers  are  here  on  deck 
planning  to  have  the  voyagers  agree  to  sail  out  into  the  great  unknown 
sea.  Captain  Arteus  said :  "I  will  only  sail  out  on  one  condition ;  first, 
every  voyager  must  agree  to  sailing  out  into  the  unknown  ocean,  and, 
secondly,  must  agree  that  I  under  all  conditions  shall  have  full  com 
mand  and  control  as  to  what  course  the  ship  shall  sail.  None  must 
ever  ask  me  to  sail  this  way  or  that  way,  but  all  must  sail  wherever  I 
command  the  ship  to  sail." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said  that  that  was  exactly  according  to  the  laws 
of  the  sea,  and  no  one  would  or  could  object. 

Polybus  said:  "Let  us  stay  here  a  few  days  and  become  better 
acquainted  with  the  land  and  sea.  That  will  tend  to  aid  us  in  carrying 
out  our  plan." 

Polybus  also  said:  "In  company  with  the  native  soothsayer,  divin 
er  of  Calphus,  I  walked  along  the  side  of  the  Pillars  of  Hercules, 
where  he  revealed  to  me  a  place  where  the  roveritus  plant  grows  in 
abundance.  This  rare  plant  is  known  to  many  soothsayers.  The  dark, 
red  berries  taste  agreeably  sweet.  Those  who  eat  them  are  filled  with 
a  feeling  of  deep  unrest.  They  stimulate  courage  and  create  a  longing 
to  wander  from  whatever  place  one  may  be.  Those  who  eat  its  berries 
become  oblivious  of  home,  of  their  native  shores,  and  are  animated  by 
an  uncontrollable  desire  to  rove  onward  and  onward  to  new  scenes 
and  lands,  looking  forward  with  a  victorious  feeling  to  the  obstacles 
which  they  may  have  to  encounter  on  their  travels.  Those  who  eat  of 
these  exhilarating  roveritus  berries  never  know  the  cause  of  their 
great  desire  to  travel  further  and  further  onward,  and  the  word  'home' 
sounds  insignificant  and  distasteful  to  their  ears.  On  eating  large 
quantities  of  the  roveritus  berries,,  it  makes  all  feel  as  if  they  would 
like  to  fly  onward  and  onward  over  land  and  sea  from  country  to  coun 
try.  The  feeling  of  seeing  the  world  and  distant  countries  is  upper 
most  in  their  minds  and  desires.  The  further  they  travel  the  further 
off  is  the  idea  of  returning  home.  The  roving  desire  which  the  rover 
itus  berry  stimulates  and  creates  does  not  lessen,  but  increases  with 
travel.  Its  effect  is  not  only  immediate  but  usually  endures  for  a  great 
number  of  moons." 

Polybus  continued:  "Captain  Arteus,  my  discovery,  through  infor 
mation  of  a  brother  soothsayer,  of  the  existence  here  of  the  very  rare 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    341 

roveritus  plant  will  beyond  all  doubt  assist  us  in  carrying  out  our 
secret  plans  of  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world,  without  any  special 
efforts  of  our  own." 

Captain  Arteus  replied:  "That  is  a  good,  fortunate  discovery.  The 
less  effort  it  requires  for  us  to  successfully  accomplish  our  object  the 
better  it  is.  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  all  must  agree  and  desire 
to  sail  out  into  the  western  unknown  ocean.  Otherwise  I  shall  remain 
true  to  my  oath — of  which  the  gods  were  called  as  witness." 

One  of  the  other  voyagers  said :  "We  will  leave  that  all  with  you, 
as  we  know  we  very  well  can." 

Polybus  spoke  again  and  said:  "We  will  find  that  the  effect  of  the 
roveritus  berries  will  be  such  that  even  if  we  should  take  the  opposite 
course,  a  longing  to  sail  out  on  the  western  ocean  will  make  itself 
heard  among  the  voyagers." 

Captain  Arteus,  Polybus  and  the  rest  are  back  to  their  quarters  be 
low  deck.  Although  the  vault  above  is  completely  covered  with  clouds 
Aurora  in  the  east  is  palely  penetrating  the  gray  clouds  and  is  an 
nouncing  the  coming  of  day.  It  is  day! 

Scriborites : 

The  voyagers  are  all  coming  on  deck.  Marstenes,  speaking 
from  the  rostrum,  said:  "Fellow  sea  rovers,  are  we  going  to  sail 
from  these  shores  without  demonstrating  through  force  that  we  do 
not  recognize  the  claim  of  Phoenicia  of  having  complete  control  of 
Calphus'  traffic,  barring  out  all  other  ships?" 

Sophon  replied :  "There  is  a  large  reserve  force  of  well  armed  war 
riors  within  the  walls  of  the  castle.  This  is  known  by  the  Committee 
on  Commerce.  Otherwise  King  Tyriostos,  who  has  thus  been  named  by 
the  merchants  of  Tyre  would  not  have  talked  so  openly  and  fearlessly 
in  his  closing  words  to  us  at  the  banquet.  As  our  committee  advise, 
upon  our  return  to  Athens  no  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  returning  here 
well  armed  with  warriors  only,  and  demand  the  whereabouts  of  Tar- 
shish,  and  also  perhaps  of  Ophire,  the  mines  where  Phoenicians  obtain 
their  gold.  Our  present  voyage  is  not  to  invite  combat,  but  to  avoid  it." 

The  applause  that  followed  Sophon's  remarks  showed  beyond  all 
doubt  that  the  opinion  expressed  by  Sophon  was  in  harmony  with  the 
ship's  adventure. 

CLIMBING  THE  PILLARS  OF  HERCULES 

It  has  been  agreed  that  the  day  shall  be  spent  in  climbing  the  Pillars 
of  Hercules  and  sauntering  around  its  sides  and  shores.  The  voyagers 
are  all  on  shore  and  are  ascending-  the  mountain  on  its  west  side, 
at  various  places.  Arriving  on  its  highest  summit  a  wondrous  view 
lay  before  the  voyagers.  To  the  south  is  Abyla,  the  southern  Pillar  of 
Hercules ;  between  the  north  and  south  shores,  the  Straits  of  Herculeum ; 


342  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

to  the  east  the  broad  Mediterranean,  and  towards  the  west  the  great 
unknown  ocean. 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  had  carried  his  light  bronze  tripod  along 
up  to  the  summit  of  the  Pillar.  Surrounded  by  all  the  voyagers  he 
filled  the  tripod  with  incense,  lit  it  and  as  the  fumes  ascended  from 
the  tripod  prayed  with  thanks  to  the  gods  for  the  honor  and  privilege 
accorded  to  the  voyagers  of  the  Aeolus  in  beholding  from  the  summit  of 
the  Pillar  of  Hercules  the  beautiful  scene  in  the  distance,  unto  the 
great  western  unknown  ocean.  After  Orato's  prayer  all  voyagers 
joined  in  singing  to  a  well  known  tune: 

The  Pillars  of  Hercules,  rocks  of  the  land,  etc. 

The  sweet  sounds  of  which  seemed  to  resound  even  across  unto  the 
Pillar  of  Hercules  on  the  south  coast.  Descending  down  the  west  side 
of  the  Pillar  a  beautiful,  large  cave  was  discovered.  It  is  very  high 
and  endlessly  deep.  In  it  are  many  curiously  shaped  pillars.  The 
stone  figures  and  stone  pillars  are  so  beautiful  that  our  voyagers  re 
mained  in  the  cave  quite  a  time,  beholding,  in  the  glare  of  torches,  held 
by  men  voyagers,  the  beautiful  interior  with  great,  unnamable  wonder. 
The  most  wonderful  and  most  beautiful  cave  in  the  world,  it  must  be, 
all  agreed! 

In  a  rocky  dale,  near  the  shore,  the  voyagers  found  a  large  num 
ber  of  thriving  bushes,  bearing  luscious  purple  berries.  After  having 
eaten  of  the  berries  to  their  fullness,  of  which  Polybus  and  several  of 
the  voyagers  picked  baskets  full,  all  proceeded  back  to  the  ship,  with 
a  feeling  that  reminded  them  of  having  climbed  the  Pillars  of  Her 
cules.  The  sight  from  its  summit  and  the  discovery  of  the  beautiful 
cave  marked  the  day  as  one  of  the  most  delightful  days  of  their  lives. 

In  the  absence  of  the  voyagers  the  seamen  had  filled  the  ship's 
large  water  tank,  which  is  at  the  inside  bottom  of  the  ship,  with  fresh 
water. 

Anaxogerous : 

All  the  voyagers  have  answered  the  roll  call.  All  are  on  the  ship 
again.  Phoebus  has  set  in  the  west  and  the  voyagers  are  all  down 
to  their  quarters.  Anaxogerous,  the  night  scribe,  is  here.  The  night 
scribe  knows  but  little  of  what  has  happened  during  the  day  time;  but 
has  knowledge  of  many  things  that  shun  the  light  of  day. 

Hilicarus,  second  commander  of  the  ship,  Captain  Arteus,  Polybus, 
and  the  seven  voyagers  are  all  on  deck  in  close  conference.  Polybus 
says:  "The  purple  berries  are  the  real  roveritus  berries.  We  will  not 
fail  to  notice  their  exhilarating  effect  upon  all  voyagers.  We  have 
gathered  several  baskets  full  of  the  roveritus  berries,  which  will  be 
distributed  while  the  ship  is  sailing  to  and  fro  near  the  Pillars  of  Her 
cules  to  the  seamen  and  all  voyagers.  The  exhilarating  effect  and  the 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    The  Pillars  of  Hercules!     343 

great  desire  of  sailing  onward  and  onward  which  the  roveritus  berries 
create,  last  not  only  for  a  day  but  often  for  many  moons." 

It  is  past  midnight.  Captain  Arteus,  Polybus  and  the  seven  voy 
agers  have  gone  to  their  quarters  for  the  night.  A  large  number  of 
men  and  maiden  voyagers  have  come  on  deck.  They  are  saying  to 
each  other,  "O,  what  a  beautiful  night  it  is,  would  it  not  be  better  if 
the  ship  were  sailing  out  on  the  sea,  instead  of  lying  here  quietly  at 
its  moorings?" 

All  voyagers  are  on  deck.  They  never  were  as  outspoken  and  lively 
as  on  this  night.  A  large  number  of  men  and  maidens  are  up  the 
masts  and  out  on  the  large  yard-arms  singing.  Captain  Arteus  is  on 
deck  again  and  calls  for  the  Committee  of  Rules  and  Order.  The 
committee:  Diagorax,  Sophon,  Pindarus  and  Meander  appear  before 
the  Captain. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Is  not  the  presence  of  maidens  at  this  time 
of  night  against  the  rules  and  order  of  the  ship?"  Sophon  replied  that 
it  was ;  but  that  all  the  voyagers,  since  climbing  the  Pillars  of  Hercules 
felt  themselves  so  much  awake  that  they  all  agreed  to  go  on  deck. 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "Is  it  not  well  to  remember  Philostenes's  ad 
vice  and  warning,  given  in  his  farewell  address?  He  said:  'It  is  not 
well  for  the  maidens  to  remain  on  deck  after  dark,  because  in  the 
darkness  of  night  it  becomes  difficult  to  distinguish,  discriminate,  be 
tween  what  is  proper  and  what  is  improper  behavior.' 

"I  also  remember,  on  listening  to  one  of  our  orators  at  Athens 
speaking  on  the  effect  of  light  and  darkness  on  the  minds  and  actions 
of  mortals,  the  orator  said :  'In  the  shades  of  eve  or  night  the  ideas  of 
what  is  proper  easily  become  confused  and  erased.'  In  speaking  of 
young  men  and  maidens  he  also  said:  'In  the  dark  all  nature  seems  to 
be  suffering  for  want  of  a  spark.'  Also  the  following  I  recall  to  mind : 

When  darkness,  like  a  cloak,  doth  shield 
From  others'  eyes  our  acts, 
Then,  O,  beware,  thou  dost  not  yield 
And  follow  tempting  tracks. 

"Also  he  said: 

When  darkness  reigns,  and  none  can  see, 
Propriety,  O,  oft  doth  flee. 

Marstenes,  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Rules  and  Order,  had  the 
trumpeters  blow  their  horns  and  all  return  to  their  quarters  again. 

Polybus  is  on  deck  again.  He  says  the  roveritus  berries  it  was  that 
created  a  general  feeling  that  the  ship  ought  not  to  lie  quiet  at  its 
moorings.  The  east  vault  is  paling  towards  day.  Scriborites  is  on 
deck. 

Truly  the  ship  will  not  remain  here  at  its  moorings  for  the  day. 


344  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Every  voyager,  maid  and  man,  since  beholding  the  grand  view  from 
Pillar  of  Hercules  has  become  imbued  with  a  true  seaman's  feeling — 
a  restless  desire  to  sail  onward  over  the  bounding  waves.  All  voyagers 
are  on  deck.  It  is  a  beautiful  day.  The  birds  are  singing  beautifully 
among  the  trees  on  shore,  and  our  voyagers  are  all  getting  ready  to 
sing  a  lively  Grecian  tune.  The  following,  which  has  been  composed 
on  a  previous  occasion  by  one  of  our  ship's  voyagers  and  does  duty  as 
one  of  our  ship's  storm  songs,  beginning : 

When  Boreas  storms  in  howling  glee, 
We  sailors,  far  out  on  the  sea, 
Pity,  O  pity,  the  folks  on  land, 
Eyes  and  faces  full  of  sand,  etc. 

The  rigging  of  the  ship's  masts  is  crowded  with  men  and  maiden 
voyagers.  Upon  singing  the  storm  song,  Musicolus,  leader  of  the  ship's 
music,  gave  the  sign  from  the  rostrum,  upon  which  all  joined  in  sing 
ing  the  Storm  Song  as  before  recorded.  Never  before  have  our  voy 
agers  sung  with  such  energy,  spirit  and  abandon  as  on  this  morning. 
Their  strong,  sweet  voices  indicated  that  their  hearts  were  in  the 
song.  They  felt  as  they  sang  and  sang  as  they  felt. 

After  the  singing1,  Kerdosocles,  of  the  Committee  of  Commerce,  spoke 
from  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow  commercial  voyagers,  we  have 
been  told  that  we  could  not  too  often  recall  to  mind  and  repeat  to 
ourselves  the  great  object  of  our  great  ship's  voyage — commerce.  We 
have  successfully  arrived  at  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  the  most  westerly 
destination  of  the  most  daring  seamen.  (Applause.)  Soon  our  ship  will 
cut  the  liquid  blue  with  its  bow  pointing  in  the  direction  of  our  native 
Athens  again.  If  the  gods  grant  us  a  safe  return,  much  will  the  report 
of  your  Committee  on  Commerce  contain  in  regard  to  the  possibilities 
of  a  very  profitable  trade  with  the  distant  strange  shores. 

"Our  ship,  as  we  have  found  through  conversation  with  the  traders, 
at  the  places  where  we  have  landed,  has  not  landed  at  one-quarter  of 
the  number  of  places  to  which  the  Phoenicians  sail  regularly.  The 
object  of  this  first  voyage,  as  we  all  know,  is  not  so  much  for  real  active 
trade  as  it  is  a  voyage  of  discovery  of  trading  places;  voyage  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  possibilities  and  value  of  commerce  with 
strange  distant  shores.  At  various  of  our  landing  places  we  have 
formed  bonds  of  friendship  and  have  bartered  merchandise  of  many 
kinds  to  the  profit  of  our  new-made  friends,  and  also  to  the  profit  and 
glory  of  our  own  native  Athens.  (Applause.) 

"The  name  of  our  beloved  Greece,  Athens,  through  our  voyage  is 
becoming  favorably  known  to  many  shores  where  it  was  heretofore 
unheard  of.  What  opinions  the  wisest  of  the  people  at  the  various  shores 
where  we  landed  hold  in  regard  to  the  people  of  the  land  from  which  our 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !    The  Pillars  of  Hercules        345 

ship  sails  is  not  necessary  to  refer  to.  You  all  heard  their  more  than 
fulsome  praise.  We  can  say  that  from  the  experience,  observation  and 
information  we  have  gathered  in  regard  to  the  value  of  commerce  with 
distant  lands,  our  voyage  so  far  is  a  complete  success.  (Applause.) 

"One  of  the  thoughtful  traders  pointed  out  to  us  that  our  ship  is 
too  grand  for  real  active  commerce.  Some  goods  would  get  too  old 
before  the  ship's  cargo  could  be  gathered;  and  also  for  other  reasons. 
The  Phoenician  ships  we  saw  here,  he  thought,  are  the  proper  size  for 
commerce. 

"On  our  return  to  Athens,  if  the  gods  grant  it,  the  committee  will 
recommend  the  building  of  many  ships  of  smaller  size  than  the  Aeolus; 
and  your  Committee  of  Commerce  can  already  see  in  its  mind's  eye, 
ships  laden  with  valuable  wares,  silver  and  gold,  sailing  towards 
Athens  to  the  greatness  and  glory  of  all  Greece.  (Applause.) 

"We  have  observed  this:  that  without  the  loss  of  life,  without  con 
flicts,  commerce  cannot  be  made  successful.  Commerce  cannot  be 
established  without  bloodshed  and  war,  therefore  lies  there  a  great 
hope  for  all  of  Grecian  descent.  (Applause.) 

"Commerce  is  worth  battling  for ;  for  it  means  all  that  is  desirable 
for  a  great  nation:  wealth,  power  and  progress  in  war,  peace,  litera 
ture  and  art. 

"The  nuggets  of  gold  which  we  have  received  from  the  traders 
here,  and  their  information  in  answer  to  our  inquiries  will,  beyond  all 
doubt,  enable  our  next  ship's  voyage  here,  to  return  to  Athens  with  a 
goodly  cargo  just  as  the  Phoenician  ships  carry  on  returning  to  Tyre 
and  Sidon.  But,  as  we  said  before,  we  must  battle  for  and  bravely 
assert  our  rights  to  trade  and  barter  with  people  on  distant  shores 
equal  to  those  of  Phoenicia.  (Applause.) 

"Sailing  for  commerce  is  equal  to  sailing  to  war  for  wealth.  The 
personnel  of  a  ship  of  commerce  must  consist  of  a  goodly  number  of 
brave  warrior  seamen,  language  interpreter,  and  last,  but  not  least, 
shrewd  traders  and  barterers  who  know  the  value  and  desirability  of 
wares  for  our  Athens  and  for  the  people  of  the  shores  at  which  the 
ships  land.  It  is  looming  up  clearer  and  clearer  in  our  minds  that  the 
value  of  commerce  to  a  nation  is  such  that  the  people  who  stay  at 
home  will  find  it  to  their  interest  and  benefit  to  assist  in  building  ships 
of  commerce  for  trading  to  distant  shores.  We  can  understand  plainer 
than  ever  how  commerce  can  aid  in  making  a  nation  powerful,  strong 
and  great.  We,  your  Committee  on  Commerce,  although  our  voyage  is 
only  half  completed,  realize  more  clearly  than  ever  the  meaning  of  the 
short  saying  spoken  by  our  Phoenician  friend  Ithobal,  which  is: 

A  nation,  to  be  grand, 
Must  rule  on  sea  and  land. 


346  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Also : 

"The  ship  bringeth  abundance  from  afar." 

Kerdosocles  descended  the  rostrum  amidst  applause.  One  of  the  voy 
agers  said,  "I  observed  that  when  Kerdosocles,  in  his  remarks,  referred 
to  what  the  Committee  of  Commerce  would  report  on  our  ship's  return 
to  Athens,  a  foreign  expression  passed  over  Resignates'  our  Cassan 
dra's  face.  I  would  like  to  ask  our  ship's  Cassandra  whether  she  still 
feels  that  our  ship  will  never  return  to  Athens  again. 

Resignates  replied,  "Whenever  I  hear  any  of  us  voyagers  talking 
about  what  he  or  she  intends  to  say  or  do  upon  our  ship's  return  to 
Athens,  I  know  that  such  ideas  are  all  vain,  for  the  Fates  have  decreed 
that  our  ship  shall  never  again  return  to  Athens ;  nor  will  ever  any  of 
its  crew  or  voyagers." 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  said,  "Cassandra,  allow  me  to  remark  you 
are  too  good  looking  to  be  gifted  with  the  wisdom  of  prophecy.  You  do 
not  look  like  a  prophetess,  and  we  are  not  going  to  believe  your  predic 
tions." 

Resignates  replied,  "I  don't  want  to  look  like  a  prophetess,  and  I 
don't  care  whether  you  believe  my  predictions.  All  I  say  is  the  ship 
will  never  return  to  Greece  again." 

One  of  the  voyagers  asked,  "Resignates,rcan  you  give  us  a  reason  for 
your  presentiment?" 

Resignates  said,  "I  feel  a  shaping  of  coming  events,  although 
I  can  not  explain  all  in  words  even  to  myself.  We  know  that  thought  is 
deeper  than  words,  and  feeling  deeper  than  thought.  I  will  not  speak 
much,  but  one  often  hears  the  word  'luck'  used.  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
luck.  The  gods  know  what  will  happen  tomorrow  by  the  events  of  not 
only  today,  but  by  the  events  of  many  moons  past.  The  events  of  today 
have  been  shaped  by  the  wave  like  events  of  the  past.  The  gods  know  the 
future  by  the  wave  movement  of  the  past  and  present.  The  present  is 
born  of  the  past.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  would  be  well  for  mortals 
to  feel  or  to  know  the  events  that  will  happen  in  the  future.  All  I  know 
is  that  I  have  made  my  peace  with  the  gods  long  ago,  and  that  I  will, 
for  our  short  time  is  precious,  enjoy  the  beauties  and  pleasures  of  the 
world  to  its  fullest  extent." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said,  "So  you  believe,  in  view  of  the  short, 
precious  time  we  still  have  before  us,  that  we  should  enjoy  ourselves 
with  a  sort  of  reckless  abandon?" 

Resignates  replied,  "Yes,  I  believe  we  are  fools  if  we  do  not 
enjoy  ourselves  during  the  short  time  allowed  to  us  by  the  Fates ;  enjoy 
ourselves,  not  with  reckless  abandon,  but  with  thoughtful  abandon. 
But  I  do  not  wish  to  be  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes  and  will  seek  my  quar 
ters  for  a  time," 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules  I    The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !      347 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said,  "Fellow 
sea  rovers,  we  have  all  received  the  baptism  of  the  sea  and  we  are  fully 
conscious  of  the  fact  that  with  our  natural  superior  gift  of  comprehen 
sion  and  our  experience  on  the  sea  in  all  its  moods,  we  are  above  and 
beyond  the  common  seamen.  We  understand  the  philosophy  of  the  sea, 
and  of  true  seamanship  more  profoundly  than  has  ever  mortal  man  with 
the  exception  only  of  the  great  Ulysses,  who  will  always  remain  the 
greatest  sailor  of  all  time.  (Applause.) 

"We  have,  after  encountering  Neptune's  various  moods,  arrived  here 
alongside  of  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  This  is  an  indication  that  the 
combined  gods  looked  with  favor  on  our  trip  and  grand  commercial 
venture.  (Applause.)  We  are  not  common  seamen  and  the  gods  have 
a  right  to  expect  more  of  us  and  our  ship  than  of  a  smaller  ship  with 
common  seamen.  (Applause.) 

"We  have,  it  is  true,  sailed  to  these  Pillars  of  Hercules,  the  further 
most  westerly  limits  of  the  bravest  of  sea  rovers,  but  I  ask,  are  we 
'the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,'  to  be  guided  by  the  limits  of  inferior 
seamanship?  Fellow  sea  rovers,  I  will  leave  you  answer  that  question. 
As  for  me,  I  feel  as  if  I  would  like  to  fly  to  all  the  ends  of  the  world." 
(Great  applause.) 

Norio  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said:  "Fellow  adventurers, 
we  maidens  all  feel  as  if  we  could  sail  this  grand  ship,  for  we  have 
carefully  studied  the  captain's  commands  and  observed  the  seamen's 
actions.  But  I  will  not  talk  long  and  will  only  relate  a  short  dream 
that  is  still  plainly  before  my  eyes.  I  dreamt  that  after  sailing  many 
moons  westward  out  on  the  vast  unknown  sea,  our  ship  plunged  over 
the  end  of  the  world,  down,  down !  In  the  midst  of  the  terrible,  fright 
ful  fall  and  tumble,  I  awoke  and  thanked  the  gods  that  our  ship  was 
still  lying  safely  near  the  Pillars  of  Hercules." 

Captain  Arteus  walked  in  the  midst  of  the  voyagers  and  said,  "Noble 
voyagers,  the  ship  will  for  the  balance  of  the  day  sail  on  our  Mediter 
ranean  sea  to  and  fro,  before  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  During  that 
time,  noble  voyagers,  you  can  decide  what  course  the  ship  shall  pursue 
on  the  coming  morrow."  (Applause.) 

The  freedom  given  by  the  Captain  to  the  voyagers  of  deciding  the 
ship's  future  course,  pleased  all  greatly.  Our  ship  is  now  on  the  Medi 
terranean,  where  it  will,  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  sail  slowly  to  and 
fro,  before  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  that  connects  the  great  Mediter 
ranean  with  the  unknown  ocean.  The  day  is  beautiful.  A  light,  warm 
breeze  is  from  the  south.  Our  ship  has  now  sailed  across  the  Straits  of 
Herculeum  in  plain  view  of  Cape  Abyla,  the  southern  Pillar  of  Her 
cules.  Just  beyond,  near  the  Pillar,  on  the  south  coast,  is  also  a  moun 
tain  that  seems  to  hide  its  top  in  the  clouds. 

One  of  the  voyagers  speaks  from  the  rostrum  and  says,  "Fellow  sea 


348  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

rovers,  it  seems  that  all  of  us  voyagers,  men  and  maidens,  desire  that 
our  ship  should  sail  out  through  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the 
great  western  unknown  ocean.  There  is  such  a  great  desire  to  sail  out 
through  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the  ocean  by  all  voyagers  that 
the  matter  should  be  discussed  fully  and  then  be  decided  upon.  Let  us 
all  discuss  the  question  without  ascending  the  rostrum." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said,  "If  we  are  to  sail  out  on  the  great  un 
known  sea,  we  must  well  consider  what  dangers  are  known  to  have 
their  home  there.  Large  ship  destroying  and  man  eating  snakes  and 
monsters  and  unicorns  are  there.  Ship  destroying  whirlpools,  high 
waves,  storms  that  can  toss  our  ship  about  like  a  child's  plaything.  Well, 
we  know  that  the  wisest  in  all  times  hath  said,  'The  Pillars  of  Hercules 
— what  is  beyond  is  inaccessible,  both  to  the  wise  and  foolish.'  Fellow 
adventurers,  I  only  have  given  some  of  the  dangers  of  the  great  western 
unsailed  ocean;  but  as  for  myself,  I  would  delight  to  sail  out  through 
the  Straits  of  Herculeum  on  the  vast,  unsailed,  unknown,  mysterious 
western  ocean."  (Great  applause.) 

One  of  the  maiden  voyagers  points  on  the  sea  to  a  beautiful,  large 
black  and  white  bordered  butterfly,  which  has  been  blown  on  the  sea  by 
the  south  wind.  It  has  fallen  on  the  water  and  is  helplessly  moving  its 
wings  at  times.  One  of  the  maidens  said : 

"Butterfly  blown  by  the  storm  on  the  sea, 
All  there  is  left,  is  pity  for  thee." 

Resignates  (Cassandra)  standing  nearby,  said :  "We  on  the 
ship  are  also  just  like  that  butterfly ;  blown  on  the  sea,  and  all  there  is 
left,  is  pity  for  ye — and  me." 

The  other  maidens  replied,  "Surely  we  have  nick-named  you  right ; 
you  are  a  true  Cassandra ;  always  predicting  that  evil  will  overcome 
us." 

One  of  the  maiden  voyagers  said,  "Fellow  sea  rovers ;  we  believe  that 
there  is  not  one  voyager  that  objects  to  our  ship's  sailing  out  unto 
the  western  ocean.  The  ship,  we  believe,  ought  to  sail  a  great  ways 
out  and  then  return  and  proudly  sail  with  its  prow  pointing  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Athens,  homeward  again.  Some  say  what  if  one  of  its  great 
storms  would  overtake  our  ship  we  should  all  find  a  watery  resting 
place.  We  know  that  we  have  often  said  if  we  all  go  together  at  once 
what  is  the  difference?  Who'd  care?" 

A  number  of  the  men  voyagers  asked  Captain  Arteus  to  give  his 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  advisability  of  sailing  out  on  the  unknown  sea. 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "Noble  voyagers,  whether  the  ship  will  sail  out 
through  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the  unknown  sea,  that  I  will 
leave  to  the  voyagers  to  agree  upon  and  decide.  But  I  state  plainly  that 
the  ship  will  only  sail  out  under  three  conditions:  First,  it  must  be 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !    The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !      349 

the  wish  of  each  and  every  voyager  that  the  ship  shall  sail  out.  Sec 
ondly,  the  ship  will  sail  out  only  with  the  agreed  understanding  of  all 
voyagers  that  the  ship  shall  be  sailed  by  seamen  commanded  by  seamen, 
on  the  principle  that  seamen  must  rule  on  the  sea  and  not  voyagers 
(landsmen).  Thirdly,  at  no  time  shall  any  or  any  number  of  the  voy 
agers  indicate  by  word  or  action  the  course  the  ship  shall  sail — whether 
west,  east,  north  or  south  or  any  other  direction  or  course. 

"With  this  understanding  and  agreement,  noble  voyagers,  I  leave  the 
decision  in  regard  to  sailing  out  on  the  unknown  western  sea  wholly  to 
you.  I  will  instruct  Polybus  to  study  the  stars  and  in  his  various  ways 
to  find  out  any  signs  that  may  point  for  or  against  our  sailing  out  into 
the  western  ocean.  Noble  voyagers,  take  the  matter  into  profound  con 
sideration.  Do  not  be  hasty.  Bear  in  mind  the  conditions  which  I 
stated  and  which  all  must  agree  to,  before  our  ship  can  cut  the  foam  of 
the  great  unknown  waters." 

Captain  Arteus  walked  to  the  stern  of  the  ship.  One  of  the  men  voy 
agers  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said,  "Fellow  adventurers !  fearless  ad 
venturers!  We  have  heard  and  fully  understood  and  realized  the  con 
ditions  under  which  Captain  Arteus  will  sail  out  on  the  grand  western 
ocean.  The  vote  taken  in  regard  to  the  matter  shows  that  all  of  us 
voyagers  agree  and  desire  to  sail  out  on  the  unknown  sea  in  accordance 
with  the  conditions  laid  down  by  Captain  Arteus.  (Great  applause.) 
Fellow  adventurers,  let  us  not  call  this  unanimous  desire  and  agree 
ment  final  until  all  again  are  asked  on  the  morrow  morning.  As  dark 
ness  is  spreading  over  the  land  and  sea  we  all  again  can  express  our 
opinions  and  desires  after  having  enjoyed  the  strengthening  powers  of 
Morpheus."  The  night  scribe  is  on  deck. 

Anaxogerous : 

The  moon  and  stars  are  spreading  their  mild  lustre  over  shore  and 
sea.  Polybus  is  on  deck,  carefully  studying  the  stars  in  the  western 
vault  above.  Polybus,  Captain  Arteus  and  the  seven  voyagers  are  again 
considering  matters  in  regard  to  sailing  to  and  over  the  end  of  the 
world.  Captain  Arteus,  Hilicarus,  the  seven  voyagers  and  Polybus  agree 
that  it  would  require  extra  efforts  to  keep  the  voyagers  from  sailing  out. 
Polybus  claims  that  all  the  great  determination  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
voyagers  to  sail  out  is  the  effect  of  the  roveritus  berries.  Captain 
Arteus  and  the  seven  voyagers  have  gone  down  to  their  quarters  again. 
Polybus,  alone,  has  remained  on  dec*,  to  study  the  stars. 

Polybus  and  Hilicarus  have  called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
grand  meteor  that  has  just  descended,  dazzling  bright,  leaving  a  long, 
fiery  tail,  descended  in  a  westerly  direction,  towards  the  unknown  sea. 
It  was  a  wonderful  fiery  meteor,  more  glittering  than  I  ever  beheld. 
The  heavens  are  now  overcast  with  clouds.  The  south  wind  is  lulled 
and  deep  darkness  is  all  around.  It  is  a  sultry  night.  Thunder,  light- 


350  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ning  and  rain  are  holding  sway.  Fiery  zig-zag  flashes,  followed  by  deaf 
ening  peals  of  thunder,  glaringly  point  out  the  shores  and  the  Pillars 
of  Hercules  in  the  pitchy  darkness  of  night.  Torrents  of  rain  descend 
from  the  fiery  vault  above.  It  is  past  midnight.  The  storm  has  abated. 
The  voyagers  all  seem  to  be  restless  for  they  are  coming  on  deck. 

One  of  the  voyagers  speaks  from  the  rostrum  and  says,  "Fellow  voy 
agers,  Polybus  will  now,  before  even  Phoebus  brings  us  day,  inform  us 
whether  he  has  discovered  or  noticed  any  signs  that  augur  for  or  against 
our  sailing  out  on  the  great  western  sea.  We  voyagers  feel  as  if  we 
ought  to  sail  out;  for  there  is  nothing  that  a  true  Grecian  dare  not 
dare."  (Applause.) 

Polybus  was  asked  to  ascend  the  rostrum  and  said,  "Fellow  adven 
turers,  I  yesterday  and  this  night  found,  observed  and  noticed,  various 
things  and  occurrences  that  denote  signs  auguring  whether  our  ship 
should  or  should  not  sail  out.  This  night  while  the  stars  were  shining 
brightly,  Hilicarus,  Anaxogerous  and  myself  beheld  a  most  dazzling 
meteor  falling  from  the  heavens  in  a  westerly  direction  over  the  west 
ern  ocean.  In  its  glittering  descent,  its  long  fiery  tail  looked  like  a  long, 
fiery  finger,  pointing  out  towards  the  unknown  sea.  It  remained  in  its 
fall  much  longer  than  usual,  thus  giving  us  a  good  opportunity  to  notice 
its  long,  fiery,  finger-like  form. 

"Yesterday  Captain  Arteus  and  myself  noticed  a  large  albatross 
alight  on  the  fore  mast  of  our  ship.  After  a  short  stay  it  flew  towards 
the  western  sea.  We  did  not  call  attention  to  it  at  the  time,  because 
some  of  the  voyagers  thoughtlessly  might  have  disturbed  it.  During 
this  night,  just  after  the  great  rain  storm  abated,  Castor  and  Pollux 
were  brightly  shining  on  the  top  of  each  of  our  ship's  masts;  a  good 
omen  always. 

"Noble  adventurers,  Captain  Arteus  asked  me  to  observe  the  blue 
vault  above  for  signs  that  augur  for  or  against  our  ship  sailing  out 
into  the  unknown  ocean.  In  the  early  night,  the  heavens  were  clear 
and  bright.  Urso  Major  is  overhead;  the  pointers,  be  it  noted,  are  to 
the  west  of  the  zenith  and  point  down  to  the  Phoenician  star.  The 
Pleiades,  be  it  also  noticed,  are  about  setting  in  the  west  to  the  right. 
The  great  streak  of  light  in  the  vault  above  also  points  with  its  one  end 
toward  the  western  ocean.  Brilliant,  starry  Gemini  hangs  like  a  golden 
'crown  over  Orion's  stars,  which  has  set  in  the  west  side  of  the  world. 

"Noble  voyagers,  to  rehearse  all  the  starry  signs  that  augur  for  our 
ship  to  sail  out,  would  be  tiresome,  for  they  are  endless.  The  vault 
above  is  now  again  covered  with  clouds  and  in  this  darkness  of  night 
we  may  not  be  able  to  see  any  more  signs.  But  the  day  also  may  have 
signs  in  store  for  us." 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Fellow 
sea  rovers!  The  fact  that  all  of  us  are  here  on  deck,  before  Aurora 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules!    The  Pillars  of  Hercules!  .   351 

has  vanished  into  the  darkness  of  night,  shows  with  what  eagerness  we 
all  desire  to  sail  out  upon  the  western  ocean,  regardless  of  its  storms, 
high  waves,  whirlpools,  or  ship-destroying,  or  man-eating  sea  monsters. 
(Great  applause.)  For  we  are  Grecians  (applause),  regardless  of  what 
the  most  daring  and  bravest  of  seafarers  fear  to  do  (applause),  regard 
less  of  what  the  bravest  of  mortals  ever  dared  not  to  do.  (Applause.) 

"Neptune,  the  god  of  all  seas,  and  also  Aeolus,  god  of  the  winds,  ex 
pect  more  of  us  than  of  other  mortals,  on  sea  as  well  as  on  land.  (Ap 
plause.)  For  us  to  have  our  great  ship's  prow  turned  in  the  direction 
of  Athens  without  having  sailed  out  farther  on  the  encircling  ocean, 
would  be  looked  upon  as  cowardice  by  all  the  gods  that  upon  high 
Olympia  dwell.  No  such  stigma  will  we  allow  to  fall  on  descendants  of 
our  most  illustrious,  heroic,  Grecian  forefathers.  (Great  applause.) 
Polybus,  upon  a  time,  has  truly  spoken  in  saying  that  the  presence  of 
our  grand  beautiful  ship  on  the  unknown  ocean  with  its  bright  rainbow 
flags,  beautifully  painted  sails,  on  which  also  Neptune's  picture  is  artis 
tically  displayed,  and  with  its  Athenian  Four  Hundred,  would  be  looked 
upon  by  Neptune  as  a  mark  of  honor.  (Applause.)  The  very  waves 
would  be  pleased  and  would  be  delighted  to  have  our  grand  ship  and  its 
personnel  glide  over  its  ponderous,  vast,  heaving  bosom.  (Applause.) 
All  the  signs  observed  so  far  by  Polybus  indicate  that  the  Gods  wish 
us  to  honor  the  God  of  the  Seas  by  our  presence  out  on  his  great  west 
ern  unknown  realm."  (Applause.) 

Captain  Arteus  has  come  on  deck.  Ascending  the  rostrum,  Captain 
Arteus  said:  "Noble  voyagers,  seeing  that  you  are  all  on  deck,  even 
before  Phoebus  has  vanished  the  darkness  of  night,  I  have  a  right  to 
believe  we  have  a  very  auspicious  day  before  us.  Therefore,  have  I 
ascended  this  rostrum,  because  of  the  great  importance  of  matters  to  be 
decided.  It  is  well  known  to  the  bravest  and  oldest  of  seamen  that  at 
times  landsmen  apparently  display  more  courage  and  seem  more  fearless 
than  real  seamen.  And  why?  Because  they  are  blind  to  and  are  ig 
norant  of  the  various  dangers  of  the  sea.  Deep  ignorance  and  folly  at 
times  may  appear  as  courage. 

"Noble  voyagers,  full  well,  I  know  the  present  courage  and  determi 
nation  is  not  of  that  kind.  I  know  that  it  is  real  courage  and  profound 
thoughtfulness  that  has  decided  you  to  sail  out  on  the  vast  ocean  of 
oceans.  I  do  not  look  upon  you  as  landsmen  and  maidens,  for  your 
close  study  of  the  sea  and  all  its  wiles,  and  at  times,  assistance  in  hand 
ling  and  sailing  our  great  ship,  has  on  this  long  voyage,  entitled  each  of 
you,  noble  Athenians,  to  the  recognition  and  title  of  full  seamanship. 
(Applause.)  Nothing  else  could  be  expected,  noble  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens,  from  such  as  the  gods  have  gifted  with  superior  excellencies,  in 
cluding  strength,  determination,  and  fearlessness. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  you  know  I  have  taken  an  oath  before  all  the 


352  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

gods,  upon  our  departure  at  Athens,  and  I  wish  to  hear  whether  the 
oracle  of  Delphi,  which  was  read  before  our  departure  at  Athens,  con 
tains  anything  forbidding  our  ship  from  sailing  out  through  the  Straits 
of  Herculeum  into  the  unknown  sea." 

I,  Anaxogerous,  night  scribe,  got  the  parchment  roll  containing  the 
Oracle  of  Delphi,  on  request  of  Captain  Arteus,  and  with  the  aid  of  a 
light  found  that  the  Oracle  of  Delphi  only  advised  on  what  day  the  great 
ship  should  start  on  its  voyage,  but  nothing  further. 

Captain  Arteus  continued,  "Noble  voyagers,  as  the  Oracle  of  Delphi 
says  nothing  that  forbids  our  ship  from  sailing  out  through  the  Straits 
of  Herculeum,  I  am  not  bound  by  any  oath  in  that  manner.  The  limit 
of  our  voyage  was  set  to  be  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  but  the  unanimous 
will  of  the  voyagers  on  all  matters  was  to  be  supreme."  (Applause.) 

Captain  Arteus  descended  the  rostrum  and  returned  to  his  quarters 
below  deck. 

One  of  the  maidens  hastily  ascended  the  rostrum  and  said,  "Fellow 
sea  rovers,  it  seems  to  me,  it  matters  not  whither  we  sail  to  or  whither 
we  go,  or  what  may  befall  us,  as  long  as  we  all  go  together."  (Ap 
plause.  ) 

It  is  raining  lightly.  The  voyagers  have  all  gone  to  their  quarters 
for  a  short  rest  before  Phoebus  illumines  land  and  sea. 

Polybus  says  to  me  in  confidence:  "The  roveritus  berries  have 
created  a  restless,  wandering  spirit  in  all  the  voyagers."  The  wind  has 
lulled  and  the  ship  is  lying  nearly  still  on  the  Mediterranean,  in  front 
of  the  Straits  of  Herculeum.  Aurora,  through  the  opening  of  clouds, 
announces  the  coming  of  day.  The  day  scribe,  Scriborites,  is  now  on 
deck. 

Scriborites : 

The  voyagers  are  coming  on  deck  very  early  this  day.  Captain 
Arteus  asked  Polybus  to  ascend  the  rostrum  and  announce  in  regard  to 
the  signs  auguring  for  or  against  the  ship's  sailing  out. 

Polybus  said:  "Noble  adventurers,  I  have  studiously  observed  all 
signs  and  find  each  and  all  to  indicate  that  the  ship  ought  to  sail  out 
through  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the  vast  unknown  sea.  (Great 
excitement  and  applause.) 

"Neptune  would  feel  honored  and  proud  by  your  ship  and  the  pres 
ence  of  its  noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens  there.  Fellow  adventurers, 
watch  those  sea  gulls— watch  them  fly!  hear  them  cry!  Onward  to 
wards  the  west  they  are  flying — further  and  further  until  lost  sight  of — 
on  the  great  unknown  sea.  Their  cry  as  they  flew  past  was,  'Sail  out! 
Sail  out!  Sail  west!  Sail  west!'  Thus  the  graceful  white  sea  birds, 
the  true  seaman's  friend,  have  also  indicated  the  direction  our  ship 
ought  to  sail.  Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  I  can  almost  see  and 


The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !    The  Pillars  of  Hercules  !      353 

hear  the  stars,  moon  and  sun  beckon  to  us  as  they  travel  their  westerly 
course,  calling  down : 

Sail  west !   Sail  west ! 

There  things  are  best. 

Our  course  observe 

And  do  not  swerve, 

Come,  follow  us !   Come,  follow  us ! 

"All  things  in  the  blue  vault  above,  we  cannot  fail  to  see,  move  west. 
And  so  for  us  it  may  be  best  such  course  to  follow.  Look  at  the  tide. 
It  is  also  flowing  from  the  Mediterranean  into  the  unknown  ocean. 
Noble  voyagers,  look  aloft.  The  breeze  is  from  the  east.  If  our  ship 
were  now  left  to  itself  it  would,  by  its  own  wish,  be  wafted  by  tide  and 
wind  out  onto  the  great  western  ocean.  (Applause.)  Noble  adventur 
ers,  all  I  will  say  further  upon  this  beautiful  morning  is : 

"All  signs  taken,  full  well  I  know, 
Plainly  portend,  it  shall  be  so."  (Great  applause.) 

Captain  Arteus  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said :  "Noble  voyagers  : 
What  is  your  decision?  Shall,  or  shall  not  the  ship  sail  out?" 

As  if  with  one  voice,  all  voyagers  shouted,  in  great  glee,  "Sail  out! 
Sail  out!  Sail  out!  Sail  out!" 

Captain  Arteus  gave  orders  to  have  all  sails  and  flags  hoisted.  And 
then  walked  and  stood  near  the  steersman  at  the  stern  of  our  grand 
ship.  One  of  the  voyagers  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said : 

All  signs  invite  us  to  sail  west, 
To  be  the  unknown  sea's  high  guest ; 
We,  each  and  all,  as  Grecian  braves, 
Must  shirk  not  from  his  graceful  waves. 

THE  AEOLUS  SAILS  THROUGH  THE  STRAITS  OF  HERCULEUM, 
OUT  ON  THE  WESTERN  OCEAN. 

All  is  excitement  on  the  ship,  just  as  if  the  ship  were  just  beginning 
to  start  on  its  voyage.  Mingled  feelings  of  mirth  and  earnestness  pre 
vail.  All  the  voyagers  are  looking  ahead  out  towards  the  great  vast 
western  ocean.  Phoebus  is  just  beginning  to  show  his  golden  face  be 
tween  the  opening  of  clouds  in  the  eastern  horizon.  All  the  voyagers  are 
at  once  greatly  delighted.  O  how  beautiful!  O  how  grand!  Such  were 
the  exclamations  of  delight  to  which  all  the  voyagers  gave  expression. 
A  bold,  distinct,  rainbow  ahead  of  the  ship  to  the  west  called  forth  the 
exclamation  of  delight,  wonder  and  awe  among  the  voyagers.  A  beau 
tiful  rainbow  is  arched  directly  over  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  and  ap 
pears  as  if  it  rests  on  the  opposite  shores  of  the  Strait. 

Polybus  says  nothing,  but  on  walking  through  the  crowd  of  voyagers, 
simply  points  ahead  to  the  beautiful  rainbow. 


354  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Voyagers  are  saying :  "The  rainbow  is  resting  on  the  opposite  shores 
of  the  Strait.  The  Strait  is  overarched  with  a  beautiful  rainbow." 

Orato,  our  ship's  priest,  has  ascended  the  rostrum.  In  silence  he  is 
imploring  the  favor  of  the  gods  for  our  ship  and  voyagers.  Incense  is 
arising  from  the  bright  tripod  at  his  side.  With  all  sails  set  and  flags 
waving,  our  ship  is  sailing  under  the  beautiful  rainbow  which,  upon  look 
ing  aloft,  gradually  vanished  from  the  view.  Both  of  our  ship's  artists, 
Orthocles  and  Graphitus,  sketched  the  beautiful  rainbow  overarching  the 
strait,  and  our  ship  with  pictured  sails  and  flags  waving,  just  ready  to 
sail  under  the  rainbow. 

Their  sketches  looked  very  true,  and  when  fully  finished  and  painted, 
will  be  beautiful  and  wonderful  paintings.  Athenians  upon  returning 
home,  if  the  gods  so  will  it,  will  have  a  picture  to  feast  their  eyes  upon. 


IRIS  ARCHES  THE  STRAITS  OF  HERCULEUM  (GIBRALTAR)  WITH  A  BEAUTIFUL 

KAINBOW  AS  THE  AEOLUS  SAILS  OUT  INTO  THE  GREAT  WESTERN 

UNKNOWN  OCEAN.     (See  page  354.) 


CHAPTER  XIX 


SAILING   WES7    ON  7 HE  GREAT  UNKNOWN  OCEAN 

Scriborites : 

Our  ship  with  a  light  east  breeze,  with  music  and  song,  all  sails  set 
and  flags  waving,  has  sailed  through  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  and  out 
on  the  vast  unknown  western  ocean.  The  voyagers  have  all  assembled 
near  the  forward  part  of  the  ship.  Orato,  standing  at  the  prow  of  the 
ship,  holding  a  polished,  gracefully  curved  drinking  horn,  filled  to  the 
brim  with  genuine  Grecian  wine,  spoke  as  follows : 

"O  Neptune,  monarch  of  the  seas,  the  greater  portion  of  the  world's 
flat  surface,  accept  as  a  sacrifice  for  the  honor  of  sailing  upon  your 
circling  ocean,  this  horn  full  of  wine,  from  the  hills  of  our  native 
Greece.  May,  O  Neptune,  its  blending  with  the  foam  at  the  prow  of  our 
ship,  be  as  sweet  nectar  unto  Thee." 

A  large  number  of  horns  were  filled  with  Greek  wine  and  partaken 
of  by  passing  from  one  voyager  to  another. 

Orato  continued,  "With  thanks,  O  Neptune,  and  all  ye  gods  that  have 
given  us  our  grand  ship,  have  given  us  the  true  courage,  have  given  us 
the  honor  of  sailing  out  on  the  vast  unknown  sea,  we  also  partake  of 
this  wine,  with  deep  reverence  and  appreciation,  thus  also  indicating  our 
good  fellowship  with  Thee,  great  unknown  sea !" 

The  east  wind  has  freshened  into  a  levanter,  and  our  ship  is  foaming 
the  sea  towards  the  west  with  great  speed.  Glancing  back  to  the  east 
all  land  is  out  of  sight.  The  night  scribe  is  on  deck. 

Anaxogerous : 

All  voyagers  have  gone  down  to  their  quarters.  Our  first  night  on 
the  grand  world  circling  ocean  promises  to  be  clear  and  beautiful.  The 
ship  is  sailing  with  great  speed  toward  the  west.  A  strong  east  breeze 
seems  eager  to  push  our  ship  out  further  and  further  o'er  the  rolling  bil 
lows.  Truly  the  gods  seem  to  desire  our  presence  out  on  the  wide  open 
ocean,  especially  Aeolus  and  Neptune,  who,  by  wind  and  tide,  have 
plainly  indicated  that  our  ship  should  not  as  yet  return  to  Athens.  As 
one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers  said  in  one  of  his  orations,  "The 
strongest  of  all  waves  are  the  waves  of  Fate."  And  truly  all  signs  and 
powers  have  decreed  that  our  ship  should  sail  ont  on  the  limitless 
ocean.  Captain  Arteus,  Hilicarus,  Polybus,  myself  and  the  seven  voy 
agers  are  in  secret  conference  again. 

355 


356  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Captain  Arteus  said :  "The  noble  voyagers  will  have  nothing  to  com 
plain  of.  They  asked  and  insisted  to  sail  out.  My  conditions  were 
often  repeated  and  were  fully  comprehended  by  all.  We  are  filling  our 
heart's  desire  sailing  towards  the  end  of  the  world." 

Polybus  said :  "The  seamen  have  also  been  permeated  with  a  restless 
desire  to  sail  onward  and  onward.  They  also  ate  of  the  roveritus  ber 
ries  you  gave  them." 

One  of  the  seven  voyagers  said:  "We  feel  that  there  are  quite  a 
number  of  our  voyagers  who,  like  ourselves,  would  also  feel  glad  if  they 
knew  that  our  ship  is  sailing  to  the  end  of  the  world." 

Captain  Arteus  said:  "I  know  that  our  voyagers  are  too  noble,  too 
honorable,  to  ever  ask  that  our  ship  shall  ever  sail  in  any  certain  direc 
tion;  and  if  they  should  it  would  be  of  no  avail.  Our  course  will  be 
west  by  south  until  we  plunge  over  the  brink  of  the  world." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said:  "It  will  be  not  be  necessary  for  us  to 
hold  any  further  secret  meetings  as  Captain  Arteus  and  Hilicarus  deter 
mine  the  ship's  course  day  and  night." 

I  believe  one  of  our  maidens  has  expressed  the  general  prevailing 
opinion  when  she  said,  "It  makes  no  difference  where  we  sail  to,  or  go, 
as  long  as  we  all  go  together." 

Captain  Arteus  said :  "I  may  soon  insist  that  the  ship's  rations  shall 
be  reduced  to  about  half.  This  the  voyagers  will  realize  to  be  neces 
sary." 

Captain  Arteus  and  all,  excepting  Hilicarus,  have  gone  below  decks 
to  their  quarters.  It  is  near  midnight.  I  have  often  thought  that  I 
would  like  to  see  how  our  grand  ship  looks  with  all  its  sails  set.  From 
the  deck  one  cannot  see  how  the  ship  looks  from  a  distance.  I  crawled 
out  to  the  end  of  the  ship's  bowsprit.  Facing  the  ship,  there  loomed 
above  the  water,  supported  by  the  ship,  tall  masts,  which  in  the  dim 
night  air,  with  canvas  spreading  out  beyond  the  hull,  seemed  to  tower 
to  the  stars  in  the  vault  above.  The  night  breeze  is  just  strong  enough 
to  fill  all  sails.  The  ship  scarcely  rose  and  fell  as  it  sailed  majestically 
onward  o'er  the  grand  ocean's  heaving  billows.  How  beautiful,  sublime, 
glorious!  The  scene  spread  out  before  me.  The  grandness  and  proud 
determination  and  incomparable  majesty  with  which  the  ship  sailed  on 
ward  creates  a  feeling  within  one  as  if  it  were  a  thing  of  life.  With  a 
great  number  of  sails,  one  above  the  other,  towering  up  to  the  clouds 
and  the  lower  sails  extending  far  beyond  the  ship's  sides  the  ship  itself, 
its  hull,  looks  smaller  than  I  had  thought.  Except  a  gentle  splashing 
of  foam  against  the  prow,  as  it  cuts  the  water,  the  ship  sails  noiselessly 
onward  in  all  its  sublime  majesty. 

Sailing  further  and  further  out  in  the  vast  unknown  ocean,  but 
whither!  Yes,  I  asked,  O  great  ship,  whither  are  we  sailing?  But 
mutely  like  a  Fate,  the  great  ship  sailed  majestically  onward.  I  went 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  357 

back  on  deck.  By  beholding  the  towering,  moving  scene,  memories  of 
the  scene  of  the  departure  at  Athens  crowded  my  brain;  and  if  I  had 
not  been  a  Grecian,  I  would  have  given  away  to  emotion. 

The  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  the  flower  of  Greece,  are  quietly  sleep 
ing  within  the  walls  of  our  ship.  But  whither  is  it  sailing? — sailing  to 
the  end  of  the  world ! 

Our  sensitive  fellow  voyager,  Resignates,  seems  to  have  pre 
dicted  rightly  when  she  said,  "Our  ship  will  never  return  to  Athens 
again."  Thus  has  it  again  been  proven  that  some  persons  are  of  such 
sensitive  nature  as  to  be  able  to  feel  the  waves  of  coming  events. 

The  wind  has  increased.  The  masts,  yards  and  rigging  are  creaking 
under  the  great  strain  of  the  sails.  Our  ship  is  sailing  onward  with 
tremendous  speed.  Hilicarus  has  given  orders  to  lower  the  topmost 
sails.  Aurora's  rosy  light  is  rising  out  of  the  sea  to  the  east.  The  day 
scribe  is  on  deck. 

Scriborites : 

Nothing  but  water  in  sight.  The  ship  is  running  over  water  to  the 
west  with  great  force.  All  the  voyagers  are  on  deck.  All  have  ex 
pressed  their  desire  to  take  the  baptism  in  the  great  unknown  sea  in  the 
same  manner  as  on  taking  the  baptism  in  the  Mediterranean.  The  men 
are  to  stand  below  in  front  of  the  ship's  prow  and  pass  under  two  waves 
and  the  maidens  are  to  pass  under  one  wave.  In  alternate  order  with 
the  white  baptismal  sheet,  men  and  maidens  without  delay  received  the 
baptism  of  the  great  unknown  sea.  Some  thought  the  water  was  warmer 
than  the  Mediterranean  and  some  thought  it  was  colder.  All  felt  as  if 
they  now  were  in  close  fellowship  with  the  great  sea. 

As  a  gift  and  sacrifice  to  Neptune,  the  voyagers  gave  one  of  the  large, 
bright,  burnished  bronze  medals  to  Orato  to  cast  into  the  sea.  The 
medal,  like  all  of  the  other  medals,  has  a  clear,  distinct,  portrayal  of 
Athens  and  our  ship  on  one  side,  and  the  face  of  a  perfect  man  and 
maiden  on  the  opposite  side,  on  which  also  is  inscribed  "The  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens.'1  Orato,  surrounded  by  all  voyagers,  stood  on  the  ros 
trum  and  threw  the  bright  medal  far  over  into  the  sea,  saying : 

"O  Neptune,  monarch  of  the  greater  part  of  the  world's  wide  plain, 
with  pleasure  and  great  reverence  we  cast  into  thy  powerful,  blue,  rest 
less  element,  this  bright  medal,  indicating  the  highest  and  most  noble 
type  of  manhood  and  womanhood.  We  beg  thee,  O  monarch  of  the  sea, 
may  the  gift  be  acceptable  and  agreeable  unto  thee.  In  our  humbleness, 
O  Neptune,  may  we  hope  that  our  presence  and  the  presence  of  our  great 
ship  out  on  the  world-circling  ocean  is  agreeable  in  thy  sight  and  as  an 
honor  unto  thee,  O  Neptune.  Large  is  our  ship,  but,  O  Neptune,  fully 
conscious  are  we  that  it  is  only  as  a  plaything  in  thy  powerful  billowy 
hands.  O  Glorious  God  of  the  Sea ! 


358  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Long  after  we  and  ship  are  gone, 
The  medal  bright  will  still  shine  on, 
Beheld  by  Nerseides  swimming  round, 
With  glancing  eyes  and  thoughts  profound, 
Will  endless  rest  on  ocean's  floor, 
When  we  and  ship  are  all  no  more ; 
Moons  will  come  and  moons  will  go, 
But  mortal  man  can  never  know 
Or  ever  see  the  medal  bright, — 
Forever  deep  is  out  of  sight; 
But  thou,  O  Neptune,  canst  behold 
Its  beauteous,  reminding  mold 
Of  us ;  the  ship  that  sailed  this  day. 
And  thus  in  humbleness,  we  pray, 
Accept  it  as  a  lasting  sign 
Of  friendship,  noble  God  divine, 
From  Athens'  HUNDRED  FOUR  this  day 
With  reverence,  deep,  O,  thus  we  pray." 

Orato  descended  from  the  rostrum  and  the  voyagers  engaged  in  cast 
ing  the  discus  and  other  games.  The  ship  is  sailing  onward,  onward  to 
the  west.  We  all  hope  it  will  soon  change  its  course  again  toward  the 
rising  sun  but  the  noble  feelings  of  our  voyagers  as  yet  will  not  humble 
themselves  in  making  or  even  intimating  such  desires. 

One  of  the  voyagers  spoke  from  the  rostrum  and  said,  "Fearless  fel 
low  sea  rovers.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  we  are  now  sailing  out  on  the 
great  ocean  and  not  on  the  Mediterranean  any  longer,  for  which  the 
rules  of  the  ship  were  ordained,  all  rules  have  become  null  and  void  and 
we  voyagers  are  no  longer  bound  by  them." 

One  of  the  other  voyagers  also  said :  "Yes,  we  are  no  longer  bound 
by  any  of  those  rules  of  order,  for  we  are  sailing  far  beyond  the  limits 
for  which  the  rules  were  to  apply.  Also,"  he  continued,  "need  no 
record  be  kept  by  the  scribes,  nor  the  days  and  nights  recorded.  What 
say  ye,  fellow  sea  rovers?" 

All  shouted,  "No  records,  no  rules,  no  time  should  be  kept,  for  we  are 
beyond  the  Pillars  of  Hercules." 

This  announcement  relieves  us  scribes  from  keeping  any  further 
record ;  but  I  will  keep  records  now  at  my  inclination  and  at  my  leisure. 

Darkness  is  beginning  to  spread  over  the  great  waters.  The  night 
scribe  is  on  deck.  I  will  inform  him  that  we  can  now  keep  records  of 
our  ship's  voyage  at  our  own  inclination  and  leisure. 

Anaxogerous : 

My  fellow  day  scribe  has  informed  me  that  we  need  no  longer  keep  a 
ship's  record,  but  that  we  can  now  record  matters  at  our  leisure.  Here 
after,  I  will  keep  records  as  my  inclination  may  prompt. 

Captain  Arteus,  the  seven  voyagers,  and  Polybus  are  on  deck  again, 
holding  their  usual  secret  conference.  Captain  Arteus  said:  "Records 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  359 

of  nights  and  days  need  no  longer  be  kept;  so  the  passing  of  days  will 
not  be  noticeable  to  the  voyagers." 

He  also  said :  "We  do  not  know  how  many  days  we  will  have  to  sail 
before  we  arrive  at  the  end  of  the  world,  therefore,  no  more  records 
should  be  kept  of  the  number  of  nights  and  days." 

The  seven  voyagers,  I  am  quite  sure,  managed  to  have  the  other 
voyagers  agree  thereto.  The  records  will  not  mark  off  time  by  the  num 
ber  of  nights  and  days,  and  thus  will  not  make  it  so  easy  to  know  the 
number  of  days  the  ship  is  sailing  out  on  the  great  unknown  sea. 

Hilicarus  said:  "It  seems  Aeolus  don't  want  our  ship  to  turn  back, 
for  a  strong,  steady,  east  breeze  is  sending  our  ship  onward  over  the 
sea  with  its  most  lively  speed." 

Captain  Arteus  said :  "As  long  as  the  wind  is  fair  for  sailing  to  the 
end  of  the  world  our  ship  will  carry  sail  unto  the  tearing  or  breaking 
point." 

Captain  Arteus  also  said :  "We  may  at  times  to  please  the  voyagers 
at  day  times  turn  our  ship  toward  the  rising  sun  with  little  canvas  set, 
but  will  at  night  times,  with  the  greatest  possible  spread  of  canvas,  sail 
towards  the  west  again." 

Captain  Arteus  and  all  the  rest,  excepting  Hilicarus  have  gone  down 
to  their  quarters  again. 

There  are  none  excepting  seamen  and  officers  allowed  to  get  very 
near  or  speak  to  the  steersman  at  the  helm.  I  asked  Hilicarus  in  what 
direction  our  ship  is  now  sailing.  Pointing  up  to  the  Phoenician  star, 
Polaris  (North  Star),  he  said,  "We  are  sailing  west  by  south;  just 
a  little  to  the  south  of  west." 

The  speed  of  our  ship  at  present  is  such  that  it  might  be  called  flying 
over  the  water  instead  of  sailing.  The  waxing  moon  and  brilliant  stars 
in  the  vault  above  throw  a  mellow  light  over  all  the  leaping  waters  beau 
tifully.  Blushing  Aurora  is  announcing  the  coming  of  day.  But  the  day 
scribe  will  not  be  here  upon  Phoebus's  arising,  for  hereafter  the  records 
of  passing  events  will  be  kept  only  at  the  inclination  and  leisure  of  us 
scribes,  but  unknown  to  the  voyagers.  It  is  day. 

Scriborites : 

The  night  scribe,  Anaxogerous  and  myself,  will  hereafter,  unknown 
to  the  voyagers,  keep  record  on  private  scroll  and  entirely  at  our  leisure. 
Rythamondes,  standing  among  a  crowd  of  voyagers,  said: 

"Onward,  like  a  fiery  steed, 
Onward,  thus  our  ship  doth  speed 
O'er  the  ocean ;   Splash  !   Splash  !   Splash  ! 
With  a  steed's  determined  dash. 
But,  alas!   where  will  it  end? 
Far  beyond,  where  seas  do  blend 
With  the  skies?    O,  who  can  say, 
Captain  holdeth  now  full  sway." 


360  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

All  the  voyagers  are  on  deck  and  can  see  that  the  ship  is  still  sailing 
onward  from  the  rising  sun  toward  the  west.  But  none  dare  speak,  dare 
to  break  their  word  of  honor. 

Several  of  the  voyagers,  with  the  assistance  of  Orato,  have  con 
structed  a  neat  wooden  tripod.  It  is  fastened  in  holes  on  a  thick  square 
piece  of  plank.  The  square  receptacle  on  top  is  filled  with  rare  incense. 
The  incense  is  lit  and  the  tripod  set  adrift  on  the  great  ocean.  Orato,  on 
the  rostrum,  prays  in  silence.  Upon  a  sign,  all  voyagers  said  in  unison, 
"O  Zeus,  God  of  Gods,  Neptune,  God  of  the  Sea,  Aeolus,  God  of  the 
Winds,  and  all  ye  gods  that  upon  high  Olympus  dwell,  we  beg,  listen  to 
Orato's  invocation  to  the  glory  and  greatness  of  Greece,  and  may  the 
sweet  rare  incense  arising  and  falling  upon  the  sea  ascend  to  your  high 
abode  and  be  received  as  a  sacrifice  unto  Thee." 

Orato  has  descended  from  the  rostrum  to  the  deck.  The  voyagers 
have  mostly  engaged  in  games  of  various  sorts.  Some  of  them  have 
thrown  out  large  hooks  and  have  caught  a  number  of  fish.  A  large  sea 
monster  was  seen  in  the  distance  but  again  disappeared  out  of  sight. 
No  more  will  the  days  and  nights  be  recorded;  but  will  run  on  unnum 
bered  and  unmarked. 

Anaxogerous : 

After  many  nights  have  come  and  gone  I  have  again  taken  a  look 
on  deck.  A  number  of  men  and  maiden  voyagers  are  on  deck,  for  there 
are  now  no  more  rules  of  order  to  be  observed.  Our  Committee  of  Con 
spiracy  has  assembled  near  the  center  of  the  ship,  a  good  distance  from 
the  other  voyagers.  The  night  and  wind  is  still  fair.  Hilicarus  and  the 
rest  of  us  conspirators  think  that  as  our  ship  has  been  over  nineteen 
days  sailing  west  with  fair  wind,  we  can  not  be  far  from  the  end  of  the 
world.  Captain  Arteus  also  says  we  must  be  getting  near  to  the  end  of 
the  world. 

He  also  says:  "For  us,  out  on  the  sea,  whose  hearts  are  broken  be 
yond  all  repair,  there  is  no  more  fitting  manner  of  ending  our  lives  than 
by  sailing,  plunging,  tumbling  over  the  end  of  the  world.  Queen  Dido, 
of  Carthage,"  he  continued,  "we  have  often  heard  it  said,  had  a  funeral 
pyre  built  and  killed  herself  on  it  because  of  a  broken  love  affair.  Also 
on  land,  noble,  heartbroken  youths  and  men  fling  their  lives  away  in  bat 
tle.  But  for  a  true  seafarer,  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world  is  the 
most  noble,  fitting  and  sublime  manner  of  taking  away  one's  life." 

"Yes,"  said  one  of  the  seven  voyagers,  "I  wish  we  were  over  already. 
The  long  suspense  is  much  worse  than  the  falling  over  the  end  of  the 
world  will  be.  It  will  suddenly  bring  an  end  to  all  love  sufferings." 
Polybus  said,  "We  are  too  far  to  turn  back  and  we  can't  be  far  from  the 
end." 

Captain  Arteus  said:     "When  we  can  see  the  end,  and  if  we  have 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  361 

time  before  we  go  over  it,  I  will  order  the  hoisting  of  all  flags,  for  we 
wish  to  go  down  nobly,  as  true  Athenian  seamen." 

This  was  applauded  by  us  conspirators.  But  the  other  voyagers  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  ship  knew  not  of  what  we  were  talking.  It  is  again 
day.  I  will  not  come  on  deck  again  for  many  nights. 

Scriborites : 

It  is  now  many  days  since  I  have  inscribed  events  on  my  record 
scroll.  Since  these  many  days  the  god  of  the  winds  seems  determined 
that  our  ship  shall  sail  onward  towards  the  west.  Captain  Arteus  seems 
to  allow  the  wind  to  direct  his  course.  It  is  almost  more  than  high  time 
that  we  should  command  the  ship's  course  to  lay  in  the  direction  of  the 
rising  sun.  But  all  have  agreed  to  not  even  intimate  what  course  they 
desire  the  ship  to  sail.  Only  on  such  agreement  did  Captain  Arteus  con 
sent  to  sail  out  on  the  unknown  sea. 

In  the  face  of  the  uncertainty  of  our  fate  all  seem  to  be  enjoying 
themselves  even  with  a  sort  of  abandon.  With  music  accompaniment, 
all  voyagers  are  singing  a  jovial  company  song,  a  part  of  which  is : 

Come,  join  in  now.     Come,  let's  sing  now, 

Let  us  gay  and  happy  be; 

Sing  with  pleasure,  in  sweet  measure, 

Laugh  and  sing  in  jollity ; 

La,  la,  la,  la,  la,  la,  la, 

Sunshine  gilds  the  world's  wide  plain. 

Come,  join  in  now,  come,  let's  sing  now, 

Worry !    pshaw,  will  kill  a  cat, 

While  on  earth  still  we  in  mirth  will 

Join  in  laughter,  song  and  chat ; 

La,  la,  la,  la,  la,  la,  la, 

Sunshine  gilds  the  world's  wide  plain. 

With  full  sails  our  ship  is  unwearied,  rising,  splashing,  falling,  dash 
ing  o'er  the  sea,  towards  the  setting  sun.  We  have  a  right  to  fear  that 
land  hereafter  will  only  live  in  memory,  but  never  again  will  be  beheld 
by  any  of  us  mortals  who  embarked  upon  this  great  commercial  ad 
venture. 

It  must  be  dawning  upon  all  now  that  Resignates,  our  ship's 
Cassandra,  talked  knowingly  when  she  predicted  that  we  never  would 
see  Athens  again.  She,  however,  is  among  the  jolliest  on  shipboard,  as 
she  says  she  knows  life  is  short,  and,  therefore,  we  should  lose  no  time 
in  long-faced  repining. 

Such  a  brave,  noble  example  is  catching  and  has  to  a  degree  encour 
aged  all  on  shipboard  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  each  day  as  it  comes  and 
goes.  Although  nicknamed  the  Cassandra  of  our  ship,  she  has  the  true 
Athenian  spirit,  worthy  of  emulation.  The  sun  is  far  down  in  the  west 
and  all  voyagers  are  again  below  deck. 

Anaxogerous : 


362  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Many  nights  it  is  since  last  I  was  on  deck,  for  I  can  now  also  freely 
mingle  daytimes  among  the  voyagers.  As  a  night  scribe,  a  certain  feeling 
of  fellowship  has  formed  itself  between  myself,  moon  and  stars.  The 
groups  and  combinations  of  stars  forming  many  kinds  of  animals,  al 
ways  delight  my  gaze.  The  constellation  Cynosure  (Ursa  Minor)  con 
tains  the  Phoenician  or  Polaris  star.  I  have  become  accustomed  to  look 
at  it.  As  a  night  scribe,  through  the  star  knowledge  of  Hilicarus,  I 
have  become  well  acquainted  with  the  names  of  many  constellations  and 
bright  scintillating  stars. 

But  when  our  ship  sails  down  over  the  end  of  the  world,  all  stars 
will  at  once  fade  out  of  sight  forever.  This  is  one  of  the  nights  on 
which  our  Conspiracy  Committee  is  to  meet. 

Polybus,  the  seven  voyagers,  Captain  Arteus,  Hilicarus  and  myself 
are  again  in  secret  conference. 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "We  are  now  sailing  over  two  moons  with  good 
fair  breezes  toward  the  west  end  of  the  world." 

He  said,  "We  can  not  be  very  far  from  the  end  after  such  distant 
sailing."  Captain  Arteus  said,  "On  the  coming  morrow  we  will  with  a 
light  spread  of  canvas  beat  against  the  wind  towards  the  east,  and  after 
dark  hoist  all  sails  and  sail  onward  towards  the  west  again." 

Polybus  said,  "The  maidens  shudder  at  my  sight  and  are  more  and 
more  afraid  of  me;  but  when  our  ship  tumbles  over  the  end  of  the 
world,  I  will  have  one  hearty  laugh  at  them  all."  He  continued,  "Kiss 
ing  is  now  a  common  sight,  by  day  or  by  night.  Their  hope  of  ever  re 
turning  to  Athens  is  apparently  growing  less  and  less.  They  all  seem 
determined  to  enjoy  life  while  yet  they  may.  They  seem  to  be  enjoying 
themselves  with  orderly  abandon.  We  can't  blame  them,  for  it  can  not 
be  long  any  more  and  of  a  sudden  all  enjoyment  and  life  will  forever 
cease." 

One  of  the  other  voyagers  said,  "All  voyagers  can  easily  resign  them 
selves  to  fate.  For  the  steady  unchanging  fair  breeze  for  sailing  to  the 
end  of  the  world  has  proved  that  our  course  is  the  will  of  the  Fates." 

Captain  and  also  Hilicarus  said,  "The  wind  blowing  from  one  direc 
tion  for  so  many  moons  is  truly  wonderful." 

Several  of  the  men  and  maiden  voyagers  are  on  deck.  Our  secret 
Committee  of  Conspiracy  has  again  retired  below  deck.  Phoebus  will 
soon  again  gild  the  sea  with  his  golden  rays." 

Scriborites : 

The  ship  is  beating  towards  the  rising  sun.  At  last  Captain  Arteus 
has  commanded  the  man  at  the  helm  to  steer  the  ship  against  the  wind 
towards  the  Pillar  of  Hercules.  The  voyagers  are  all  rejoicing  on  see 
ing  that  the  ship  has  changed  its  course  from  west  to  east.  The  voy 
agers  are  engaged  in  spear  throwing  and  other  games.  Sailing  against 
the  wind,  allows  slow  progress  for  a  ship. 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  363 

A  DUEL  ON  THE  SEA. 

Two  of  the  voyagers  have  challenged  each  other  to  a  duel  with 
spears.  One  of  the  voyagers  claims  the  other  has  spoken  insultingly  to 
one  of  the  maidens.  There  is  no  more  committee  of  order,  but  the  voy 
agers  assembled  have  agreed  that  no  fighting,  quarreling  or  duels  shall 
be  allowed  on  shipboard.  It  has  been  allowed  that  each  duelist,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  ship,  throw  a  heavy,  long  plank  over  into  the  sea,  take 
six  spears  along,  each,  and  from  each  plank  out  on  the  sea,  fight  their 
duel  until  one  of  the  combatants  is  killed,  or  gives  up,  or  has  no  more 
spears  left.  The  voyagers  assisted  in  throwing  over  a  heavy,  wide  plank 
into  the  sea  from  each  side  of  the  ship.  A  bunch  of  six  bronze 
pointed  spears  were  also  thrown  after  each  plank.  The  combatants  slid 
down  into  the  sea  with  a  short  oar  and  swam  to  and  stood  on  their 
planks.  The  ship  is  sailing  between  the  two  planks.  On  looking  back, 
they  were  some  distance  apart,  rising  and  falling  with  the  billows. 
With  a  short  paddle  they  slowly  paddled  their  planks  toward  each  other 
over  the  rising  and  falling  waves. 

Many  of  the  voyagers  went  up  the  ship's  rigging,  cross-trees  and 
yards,  and  the  others  crowded  the  ship  bulwark  to  view  the  outcome  of 
the  combat.  A  feeling  of  disregard  for  life  pervades  all  the  voyagers 
for  the  probability  of  ever  seeing  land  again  seems  very  dim  to  all. 

The  combatants  were  only  to  cast  their  spears  at  such  times  when 
each  one  stood  with  a  spear  in  his  hand.  The  billows  made  paddling 
difficult. 

After  strenuous  paddling,  the  duelists  came  within  close  throwing 
distance  to  each  other.  Both  raised  their  spears  and  cast  them  at  each 
other.  The  spears  struck  each  other  in  mid  air,  glancing  aside,  and  fell 
in  the  water.  On  the  second  bout  the  spear  glanced  from  the  side  of 
one  of  the  duelists'  helmets.  The  other  spear  missed  its  mark  and  fell 
into  the  water.  The  ship  was  leaving  the  combatants  in  the  distance. 
Captain  Arteus  ordered  the  lowering  of  several  sails  and  turned  the 
ship  in  the  direction  of  the  duelists. 

The  duelists  had  to  use  their  paddles  even  more  than  their  spears  so 
as  to  keep  their  planks  within  casting  distance  of  each  other.  On  the 
third  bout  one  duelist  was  struck  in  the  arm  and  the  other  in  the  foot. 
The  rising  billows  again  and  again  carried  the  duelists  from  each  other. 
Again  and  again  the  duelists  paddled  towards  each  other  and  cast  their 
spears ;  but  the  ever  rising  and  falling  of  the  planks  made  it  difficult  to 
send  the  spear  to  its  mark.  Our  ship  now  is  close  to  the  duelists.  With 
out  warning  or  notice  two  of  our  maidens,  clad  in  their  bathing  suits, 
stood  on  the  ship's  bulwark  and  cried  out,  "Don't  cast  your  spears! 
Don't  cast  your  spears!  Wait!  Wait!" 

Before  the  nearest  of  the  voyagers  could  hinder  it,  they  slid  down  the 


364  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

side  of  the  ship  into  the  ocean  and  swam  to  their  respective  duelist's 
planks.  On  seeing  the  maidens  swimming  towards  them,  the  duelists 
did  not  take  up  their  spears  again,  but  each  paddled  towards  one  of  the 
maidens,  who  in  the  high  heaving  waves,  were  a  much  greater  distance 
from  the  planks  than  they  could  have  judged. 

All  fear  now  was  for  the  maidens,  for  there  was  more  danger  of 
their  being  overwhelmed  by  the  billows  than  of  the  duelists  being  killed 
by  the  lances. 

After  a  time  of  intense  suspense  and  excitement  on  the  ship,  the 
maidens  each  grasped  their  respective  planks.  But  as  the  planks  were 
not  buoyant  enough  to  hold  both  duelist  and  maid,  each  duelist  also 
lowered  himself  into  the  water,  and  duelist  and  maid,  holding  each 
other  by  the  arms  over  the  center  of  the  plank,  were  enabled  to  keep 
their  heads  above  the  waves,  excepting  when  a  surging  billow  would 
wash  over  them  at  intervals.  The  ship's  boat  was  launched  and  soon, 
excepting  a  few  drifting  spears,  all,  even  including  the  planks,  were  on 
ship-board  again. 

The  duelists,  both  of  whom  were  slightly  wounded,  were  asked  to 
shake  hands  again,  which  they  did ;  and  thus  the  feud  between  them  was 
satisfactorily  disposed  of. 

Captain  Arteus  again  commanded  the  steersman  to  head  the  ship  to 
the  east,  thus  again  beating  slowly  against  the  wind,  and  dashing  into 
the  high  running  billows. 

The  voyagers  have  set  apart  the  balance  of  the  day  for  dancing.  The 
dance  in  honor  of  Neptune,  in  which  he  with  song  is  praised  in  the 
dance,  will  be  among  the  first  of  the  various  dances.  Before  dancing, 
several  horns  of  Grecian  wine  were  passed  among  the  voyagers.  One 
hornful  of  Grecian  wine  was  poured  into  the  foam  under  the  ship's 
prow,  as  a  sacrifice  to  Neptune. 

There  is  an  end  to  all  things,  even  to  enjoyments.  So,  too,  this 
day's  dancing,  which  Homer  calls  "The  sweetest  and  most  perfect  of 
human  enjoyments,"  had  to  end  for  the  shades  of  night  and  cloud  cov 
ered  skies  are  forming  fast.  All  the  voyagers  are  gone  to  their  respec 
tive  quarters. 

Anaxogerous : 

It  is  many  nights  since  I  was  on  deck.  The  fog  is  so  dense  that  one 
can  hardly  tell  whether  it  is  night  or  day.  There  are  a  number  of 
voyagers  on  deck.  The  fog  is  so  dense  now  that  only  objects  very  close 
by  can  be  distinguished  on  deck.  The  top  sails  are  invisible.  Captain 
Arteus,  Hilicarus,  the  seven  voyagers,  Polybus  and  myself  have  met 
again  near  the  stern  of  the  ship. 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "All  sails  are  hoisted  again  and  we  are  again 
speeding  with  a  fair  breeze  west  towards  the  end  of  the  world.  If  we 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  365 

still  have  fog  on  the  morrow  the  voyagers  can  not  see  the  sun  and  will 
not  know  in  what  direction  our  ship  is  sailing." 

Captain  Arteus  further  said :  "I  believe  that  this  dense,  heavy  fog  is 
a  sign  that  we  are  not  far  from  the  end  of  the  world,  for  the  wisest  of 
philosophers  have  said,  'Mists  ascend  from  the  ends  of  the  world.'  We 
must  arrive  at  the  end  soon  for  it  is  over  two  and  a  half  moons  since 
we  sailed  out  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

Just  as  Captain  Arteus  was  speaking,  a  large  falling  star  blazed 
down  from  the  heavens  and  fell  in  the  sea  behind  our  ship.  Although 
the  dense  fog  obscured  everything  from  view,  the  glare  of  the  blazing 
star  was  so  bright  as  to  be  noticeable. 

Polybus  said,  "The  bright  meteor  falling  into  the  sea  behind  our  ship 
is  another  sign  that  our  ship  shall  not  return  to  the  east,  but  shall  sail 
onward  to  the  west." 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "The  ship's  course  will  not  be  changed  to  the 
east  again,  but  will  keep  on  sailing  to  the  west  until  the  end ;  for,  if  the 
wind  should  change,  it  might  still  take  a  very  long  time  before  we  could 
arrive  there." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said  in  a  very  deliberate,  determined  earnest 
tone  of  voice: 

Out  to  the  bound'ries  of  Neptune's  realm, 

Thither  command  the  man  at  the  helm, 

To  steer  the  ship. 

Out  to  the  brink  of  the  world's  abyss, 

Where  monsters  rove  and  Scyllas  hiss, 

There  steer  the  ship. 

Annihilation  shall  be  its  fate, 

Not  one  to  survive  its  fate  to  relate, 

So  steer  the  ship ; 

Down,  down,  o'er  the  end  of  the  world, 

To  instant  eternal  destruction  hurled, 

So  steer  the  ship. 

(Subdued  applause  followed  by  us  conspirators.) 

There  were  other  voyagers  on  deck,  out  of  sight  in  the  dense  night 
fog,  but  they  were,  as  we  know,  near  the  fore  part  of  the  ship. 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "We  will  hardly  need  any  more  secret  meetings 
as  the  next  meeting  will  very  likely  take  place  when  we  tumble  over  the 
end  of  the  world.  The  dense  fog,"  Captain  Arteus  continued,  "indicates 
that  it  can  not  be  far  off." 

One  of  the  voyagers  said,  "We  can  now  go  down  to  our  quarters, 
perhaps,  for  the  last  time." 

Orato,  on  the  rostrum,  is  invoking  the  assistance  and  favor  of  the 
gods  for  a  homeward  return.  With  burning  incense  at  his  side,  invisible 
in  the  dense  darkness,  Orato  said,  "O  Zeus,  God  of  Gods,  to  Thee  we 


366  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

humbly  bow  in  prayer,  asking  your  assistance  and  light  to  extricate  our 
selves  from  out  of  this  dark,  dense  fog,  by  which  we  are  surrounded. 

"O  Zeus,  our  ship  is  sailing  onward,  but  we  know  not  whither.  Over 
two  moons'  time  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  have  we  sailed  out  on  the 
unknown,  mysterious  ocean.  O,  to  the  very  brink  of  the  world,  O  Zeus,  it 
seemeth  the  Fates  determine  to  lead  us.  We  invoke  Thee,  O  Zeus !  give 
the  captain  of  our  great  ship  wisdom  so  that  he  can  overcome  all  ob 
stacles  and  sail  our  ship  back  to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  The  darkness 
in  which  our  ship  is  speeding  onward,  O  Zeus,  is  so  dense  that  one  can 
but  dimly  see  an  arm's  length.  To  Thee,  O  Zeus,  there  is  no  darkness. 
Thou  seest  all  things  in  the  darkest  of  nights  as  well  as  in  the  brightest 
of  days.  Thy  sight  and  wisdom,  O  Zeus,  goeth  beyond  mortal's  under 
standing.  Thy  sight  and  wisdom  comprehendeth  all — the  past  the  pres 
ent  and  the  future.  But  mortal  man's  sight  and  wisdom  is  as  within  a 
small  circle.  The  dense  fog  and  mist,  O  Zeus,  make  us  fearful  that  we 
are  nearing  the  end  of  the  world.  O  Zeus,  we  humbly  beseech  Thee,  pro 
tect  us  from  such  a  direful  fate.  Within  the  walls  of  our  large  ship  are 
the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  resting  in  thy  fate — a  race  of  mortals 
whom  Thou,  O  Zeus,  and  the  Olympian  Gods  all,  have  favored  with 
superior  excellencies  above  those  of  common  mortals.  O  Zeus,  Olympian 
Gods  all,  such  are  they  for  whom  I  implore,  invoke,  I  beseech  Thee,  to 
shield  from  dire  destruction ;  for,  O,  their  beauty,  courage  and  nobility, 
by  Thy  favors,  have  indicated  that  they  were  pleasing  in  your  sight. 
One  of  our  prof oundest  Grecian  philosophers  hath  said : 

The  Gods  their  beauty  must  admire 
And  sing  their  praise  with  golden  lyre. 

"Our  ship  is  speeding  onward  in  the  pitchy  darkness,  but  whither?  O, 
cloud-compelling  Jove,  we  beseech  Thee,  mayest  thy  high  far-reaching 
power  clear  the  dense  darkness  of  mist  and  clouds  away,  so  our  seamen 
can  head  our  ship's  prow  towards  the  rising  sun.  Many  and  various  are 
the  rare  and  costly  incenses  which  have  ascended  since  our  ship's  de 
parture  with  our  hope  and  prayers  that  they  be  accepted  as  a  gift  of 
their  appreciation  for  the  many  favors  showered  upon  our  ship  and  its 
noble  voyagers.  Also,  O  Zeus,  have  we  paid  special  reverence  and  sacri 
fice  to  Neptune,  who  also  shares  in  our  Grecian  wine;  and  Aeolus  have 
we  respectfully  revered.  For  as  seafarers  we  are  surrounded  and  are 
in  close  touch  with  the  powerful  elements  over  which  they  hold  sway. 
O  ye  gods  that  on  high  Olympus  dwell,  our  prayers  and  sacrifice  will 
ever  ascend  until  eternal  darkness  shrouds  our  mortal  eye." 

Orato  descended  from  the  rostrum  while  the  incense  still  mingled 
with  the  pitchy  darkness  of  night.  The  few  voyagers  on  deck,  and  also 
myself,  returned  to  our  quarters  below.  Day  is  beginning  to  announce 
itself  in  the  east. 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  367 

Scriborites: 

Since  many  days  the  great  sea  is  covered  with  impenetrable  fog  and 
mist.  Phoebus  has  only  been  able  to  assist  us  in  distinguishing  night 
from  day.  For  many  days  the  fog  has  been  so  dense  as  to  obscure  the 
top  sails  and  the  water  a  half  ship's  length  distance. 

Continuously  rising,  falling,  and  dashing  over  and  down  through  the 
huge  billows  our  ship  with  all  sails  spread  to  the  breeze,  is  sailing  on 
ward  and  onward.  The  voyagers  have  all  resigned  themselves  to  fate. 
One  of  our  great  philosophers  said,  The  strongest  of  resignations  is 
still  buoyed  by  hope.  Truly  so  it  is  with  all  of  us.  We  still  all  hope 
that  our  ship  may  return  to  Athens,  although  we  can  hardly  call  it 
hope  any  more.  The  voyagers  believe  in  enjoying  themselves  while  yet 
they  may,  today,  tonight,  holding  less  and  less  faith  in  tomorrow  or 
some  future  time. 

Games  of  various  kinds,  fencing,  archery,  lance  throwing,  singing 
and  dancing,  seem  to  aid  in  banishing  thoughts  of  fear  or  anxiety  that 
might  arise  among  the  voyagers.  Joy  unconfined  has  held  sway  since 
hope  has  been  growing  less  of  ever  being  able  to  sail  back  to  the  Pillars 
of  Hercules. 

Some  of  our  voyagers  asked  Hilicarus  whether  our  ship  was  sailing 
towards  the  rising  sun.  He  replied,  "Since  these  many  days  of  fast 
sailing  and  dense  fog,  we  can  not  know  where  we  are  or  in  what  direc 
tion  our  ship  has  been  or  is  sailing.  There  is  no  object  of  sailing 
against  the  wind  as  we  may  be  sailing  in  opposite  direction  to  that  de 
sired.  Therefore,  our  ship  is  loyally  sailing  with  the  wind,  only  we 
know  not  whither." 

Pitchy  darkness  of  night  is  spreading  over  the  ship  and  sea.  Dancing 
and  joyousness  has  ceased  and  all  voyagers  have  gone  down  to  their 
quarters. 

Anaxogerous : 

'Tis  many  nights  since  last  I  was  on  deck,  but  the  fog  over  the  great 
ocean  is  still  as  dense  as  it  has  been  for  many  days  and  nights  past. 
There  are  no  voyagers  on  deck  this  night  for  the  mists  are  so  dense  and 
heavy  and  the  night  is  as  dark  as  the  darkest  cave.  Captain  Arteus, 
Polybus,  Hilicarus  and  myself  have  again  met,  but  for  no  particular 
purpose. 

I  asked  Captain  Arteus  in  what  direction  our  ship  was  sailing.  He 
replied,  "Since  passing  out  of  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the  great 
unknown  ocean,  our  ship  has,  excepting  one  day,  been  sailing  for  over 
two  full  moons  with  great  speed  onward  toward  the  west  brink  of 
the  world.  I  feel  it  and  I  am  certain  that  we  must  now,  after  so  long 
fast  sailing,  be  very,  very  near  to  the  end,  and  we  will  soon  have  arrived 
at  our  long  desired  goal  and  tumble  over  the  end  of  the  world  into  ever 
lasting  rest.  We  all  thought  that  we  would  see  the  mists  arise  from 


368  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

the  deep  abyss,  from  a  distance,  but  on  account  of  the  dense  mist  in 
which  we  are  already  sailing,  we  very  likely  will  not  be  able  to  see  the 
end,  but  will  sail  over  and  tumble  down  the  abyss  surrounded,  enveloped 
in  impenetrable  dense  fog.  But  our  desire  for  annihilation  will  be  com 
plete.  There  will  be  a  sudden  crashing  of  ship  and  a  deafening  roaring 
of  waters,  and  all  is  over !  Thus  will  we  as  true  sea  rovers  have  nobly 
met  our  fate.  The  thoughts  and  frailities  of  beautiful  women  will  haunt 
us  no  more." 

Polybus  said,  "But  as  we  go  down,  I  will  laugh  as  loud  and  long  as 
I  can,  just  in  spite  of  the  maidens." 

Hilicarus  said:  "I  feel  as  if  there  vrere  some  things  that  ought  to 
be  prepared  for  the  event,  but  I  know  on  second  thought,  nothing  needs 
to  be  got  in  readiness." 

Captain  Arteus  replied,  "Hilicarus,  many  moons  have  we  sailed  to 
gether  on  the  same  ships.  Your  duty  generally  was  on  going  into  port 
to  see  to  it  that  the  sails,  ropes  and  anchors  were  in  readiness  for  imme 
diate  action.  But  noble  comrade,  the  port  into  which  our  grand  ship 
must  very  soon  sail  down  into,  needs,  as  you  say,  no  preparation,  for  it 
is  the  port  of  complete  sudden  annihilation." 

Hilicarus  said,  "If  the  fog  is  as  dense  at  the  brink  of  the  world  as  it 
is  here,  we  truly  will  not  be  able  to  see  the  roaring,  falling  ocean." 
Capt.  Arteus  replied :  "If  it  is  on  a  pitchy  cave  dark  night  as  this,  we 
will  not  be  able  to  see  anything." 

Polybus  spoke  up  in  a  frightened  manner,  "Listen !  Listen !  Listen ! 
Hear  the  loud  roaring  waters  ahead  of  us.  Listen!  Hear!  The  roar 
ing  of  mighty  waters !" 

We  all  ran  to  the  bow  of  the  ship  and  looked  into  the  black  cave-like 
darkness.  Not  even  to  the  bowsprit  of  the  ship  could  we  see.  Polybus 
said,  "I  plainly  hear  roaring  of  waters  ahead — waters  roaring  over  the 
end  of  the  world  perhaps." 

Hilicarus  said,  "Yes,  yes,  I  now  hear  it." 

Captain  Arteus  and  myself  almost  said  at  the  same  time,  "There  is 
a  deep  roaring  of  waters,  beyond  all  doubt." 

In  the  dense  darkness  of  the  night  Captain  Arteus  said,  "Nearer! 
and  nearer!  Louder!"  All  of  us  said,  "At  last!  At  last!  It  is  the 
roaring  of  falling  water  over  the  end  of  the  world.  Listen!  Hear! 
Nearer  and  louder  and  plainer !" 

The  ship  is  sailing  onward  with  great  speed.  All  in  impenetrable 
darkness.  Closer  and  plainer  and  louder  sound  the  mighty  waters  just 
ahead  of  our  ship. 

Captain  Arteus  said,  "Come,  Comrades,  join  hands  and  let  us  thus 
go  down  over  the  end  of  the  world." 

Polybus  said,  "Like  true  Athenians  let  us  shout  and  sing." 


Sailing  West  on  the  Great  Unknown  Ocean  369 

O,  Noble  Four  Hundred, 
You  all  may  have  wondered — 

A  deep  silence  suddenly  falls  over  us.  The  ship's  keel  has  struck. 
The  whole  ship  is  trembling.  We  are  trembling.  Again  and  again  the 
ship's  keel  has  struck.  The  ship  is  trembling  in  every  plank,  deck,  beam 
and  mast.  We  are  all  holding  together  firmly.  Again  the  keel  has  struck. 
The  ship  is  trembling  to  her  very  core.  In  deep  silence  we  stand  to 
gether.  The  whole  keel  is  moving  over — several  of  the  sail-sheets  have 
given  away. 

Captain  Arteus  shouts,  "The  ship  is  standing  still." ! 

Hilicarus  and  Captain  Arteus  looked  over  the  bow  through  the 
dense  darkness  and  shouted  back  to  the  strength  of  their  voices,  "The 
ship  has  run  on  land !  The  ship  is  fast  on  land !" 

Standing  on  the  prow  of  the  ship  we  could  see  large  trees  near  by. 

The  voyagers,  who  were  awakened  by  the  first  contact  of  the  ship's 
keel  with  the  bottom,  all  rushed  on  deck.  To  pacify  the  voyagers  in  the 
dense  darkness  of  night,  Hilicarus,  Captain  Arteus,  Polybus  and  myself 
shouted,  "Land!  Land!  Land!  Safe!  Safe!  Safe!" 

Captain  Arteus  and  Hilicarus  in  the  darkness  took  a  survey  of  the 
situation.  Captain  Arteus  immediately  commanded  the  lowering  of  all 
sails.  Hilicarus  passed  down  the  ship's  bow  into  the  water  and  walked 
ashore.  A  rope  was  given  to  Hilicarus  who  fastened  it  around  a  large 
tree.  On  coming  on  the  ship,  he  said,  "The  ship  has  sailed  on  the  shore 
with  such  force  that  it  never  can  float  or  move  again." 


CHAPTEK  XX 

THE  SHIP  AEOLUS  RUN  ON  LAND 

The  voyagers  are  all  delighted  because  the  ship  has  not  sailed  over 
the  end  of  the  world  but  has  struck  land,  regardless  of  where  that  land 
may  be.  It  is  near  morning.  The  pitchy  darkness  of  night  and  the 
dense  fog  is  passing  away.  Phoebus  is  arising  over  the  sea  above  the 
fog  in  the  east  and  the  scene  of  land  and  sea  lies  before  us  in  the 
bright  light  of  day.  The  ship's  bowsprit  extends  over  the  shore.  Our 
great  ship  rests  so  high  on  land  that  the  seamen  all  say  it  could  never 
float  again.  The  planks  at  the  bottom  are  stove  in  and  the  leak  is  so 
large  that  the  water  in  the  ship  is  even  with  the  water  outside.  Many 
of  the  men  and  maiden  voyagers  are  sliding  down  on  land  from  a  rope 
at  the  end  of  the  bowsprit.  Many  are  wading  from  the  ship  to  the 
shore.  Our  ship  has  sailed  into  a  small  bay  of  the  great  ocean.  The 
great  ocean  is  east  of  our  landing  place.  The  voyagers  are  mostly  all 
on  land. 

Orato,  standing  under  a  large  mahogany  tree,  with  incense  arising 
from  the  tripod  at  his  side,  surrounded  by  all  the  voyagers,  said: 

"O,  Zeus,  although  far  away  from  our  never  again  to  be  seen 
Athens,  we  will  not  on  this  new  land,  change  our  Grecians  gods  for 
new  gods,  for,  O  Zeus,  god  of  gods,  from  thy  Olympian  height,  thou 
canst  behold  things  and  hold  sway  even  to  the  ends  of  the  world.  O 
Zeus,  thou  whom  and  from  whom  the  time  of  our  birth  has  showered 
such  great  blessings  on  us,  from  the  many  signs  of  flight  of  birds,  beau 
tiful  arched  rainbow,  brilliant  falling  stars,  and  the  never  lagging, 
urging  powers  of  Aeolus  and  Neptune,  to  sail  out  and  out  on  the  un 
known  ocean,  we  hold  to  the  faith  that  it  is  thy  wish  that  we  should 
sail  out  towards  the  west  near  to  the  end  of  the  world,  far,  far  away 
from  Greece,  never  to  return.  Thy  wisdom  and  ways,  O  Zeus,  exceedeth 
our  understanding.  All  hopes  had  we  lost,  O  Zeus,  of  ever  again  behold 
ing  or  placing  our  feet  upon  land,  for  often  the  high  billows  threatened  to 
overwhelm  our  great  ship;  but  Aeolus  and  Neptune  desired  not  our  de 
struction,  and  rested  not  till  our  ship  landed  us  safely  on  this  far,  fai 
off,  distant,  unknown  land.  O  Zeus,  our  Grecian  gods  will  remain  our 
gods,  on  this  new  land ;  and  our  descendants  here  will  we  teach  to  ever 
hold  sacred  and  to  honor  all  in  true  reverence  with  thanks,  prayers  and 
with  not  bloody  but  with  noble  sacrifice  of  rare  incenses  and  gifts  that 

370 


The  Ship  Aeolus  Run  on  Land  371 

are  pleasing  to  thyself.  O  Zeus,  and  all  the  gods  that  on  high  Olympus 
dwell.  After  sailing  for  nights  and  days  out  on  the  unknown  sea  our 
faith  that  your  protecting  powers,  Olympian  gods,  would  shield  us 
from  danger,  ebbed  greatly,  but  now  with  our  feet  standing  again  on 
dry  land,  our  faith  is  again  complete,  and  our  thanks  to  thee,  O  gods,  is 
boundless  even  shall  it  extend  with  sacrifice  unto  our  descendants  on 
this  land  endlessly." 

The  voyagers  appointed  a  committee  of  twenty  to  take  a  day's  travel 
to  view  the  surrounding  country  and  report  on  water,  springs,  creeks, 
rocks,  hills,  trees,  plants,  fruits,  and  wild  animals. 

CAPTAIN    ARTEUS    MAKES    CONSPIRACY    KNOWN 

Anaxogerous : 

Captain  Arteus,  the  seven  voyagers,  Hilicarus,  Polybus  and 
myself  held  a  secret'  farewell  meeting  in  the  Captain's  quarters  on 
the  ship.  It  was  agreed  that  all  of  us  conspirators,  excepting  the 
seven  voyagers,  would,  with  all  the  seamen  of  the  ship,  travel  inland 
toward  the  west.  It  was  decided  not  to  mingle  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Four  Hundred.  It  was  agreed  upon  that  Captain  Arteus  should  ex 
plain  our  conspiracy  •  (leaving  out  and  thus  not  implicating  the  seven 
voyagers)  to  the  voyagers,  and  thereafter  to  travel  to  the  interior  of 
the  country. 

Captain  Arteus  stood  on  the  bowsprit  of  the  ship  and  spoke  to  the 
assembled  voyagers  on  the  shore  as  follows: 

"Noble  'Four  Hundred,'  the  past  is  past  and  we  are  comforted  by 
the  fact  that  we  are  in  a  far  distant  land,  beyond  the  possibility  of  ever 
returning  to  the  shores  from  which  we  so  ceremoniously  departed.  We 
can't  help  but  recognize  the  fact  that  the  gods  have  showered  blessings 
upon  you  so  that  your  excellencies  place  you  above  and  beyond  the 
rank  of  common  mortals.  We  will  now  openly  unfold  to  you  the  fact 
that  during  our  great  commercial  adventure,  a  conspiracy  found  a 
dwelling  place  on  our  large  ship — a  conspiracy  to  sail  the  ship  over  the 
end  of  the  world. 

"Noble  sea  rovers,  the  past  is  past.  And  I  will  say  that  a  part  of 
the  crew  of  the  ship,  Polybus,  Anaxogerous  and  myself  were  the  prin 
cipal  conspirators.  But  the  gods  willed  it  not  that  our  ship  should 
suffer  annihilation;  for  instead  of  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world 
our  ship  was,  in  the  dense  darkness,  led  to  sail  upon  these  distant,  wild 
shores.  The  world's  flat,  wide  plain  may  be  larger  than  mortals  im 
agine;  but  we  all  know  there  is  nothing  without  an  end,  for  everything 
must  have  an  end.  We  all  know  that  we  now  cannot  be  far  from  the 
end,  therefore  we  conspirators,  Hilicarus,  Polybus,  Anaxogerous,  and 
all  the  seamen  of  our  ship  have  agreed  and  are  determined  to  travel 
westward ;  and,  if  arriving  at  new  waters,  build  there  a  small  ship  and 


372  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

sail  over  the  end  of  the  world.  That  is  the  noblest  ending  of  sea- 
rovers  whose  hearts  have  been  broken  by  unrequited  love  for  beauti 
ful,  unattainable  women.  O  woman,  thy  subtle  power  over  man  goeth 
beyond  all  comprehension!  We  think  it  is  proper  and  fitting  that  we 
do  not  remain  here  to  mingle  in  the  affairs  of  your  noble  Four  Hun 
dred.  Upon  our  departure  on  our  western  travels  there  will  remain 
here  Two  Hundred  handsome,  noble  young  men  and  Two  Hundred 
handsome,  charming,  noble  maidens  to  build  upon  these  new,  distant 
shores  in  time  a  city  and  nation  equal  to,  or  perhaps  even  greater,  than 
our  ever-to-be-remembered  Athens,  Greece.  Before  this  day's  sun  sets, 
Noble  Four  Hundred,  we  will  be  wandering  toward  the  west,  onward, 
ever  onward ! 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  we  know  that  you  will  all  agree  that  the 
many  signs  augured  for  our  ship  to  sail  onward  and  onward  towards 
the  west,  and  the  never  ceasing,  unheard  of  fair  wind  speeding  our  ship 
ever  onward,  that  the  very  gods  themselves  were  allies  to  our  conspir 
acy.  Our  ship,  as  if  the  arms  of  our  helmsman  have  been  guided  by 
some  higher  power,  has  blindly,  as  it  were,  in  the  dense  fog  and  dark 
ness,  sailed  over  rocks  into  this  bay,  where  the  force  of  the  ocean 
waves  is  greatly  calmed  and  weakened. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  the  ship  can  never  be  brought  to  float  or  sail 
again,  but  its  ropes,  planks,  and  sails  and  masts  may  become  of  use  to 
you.  The  many  wares  and  foods  in  our  ship's  store-room  will  serve 
you  for  many  moons  to  come.  As  soon  as  I  get  back  on  deck  we,  the 
conspirators,  and  all  the  seamen,  equipped  with  our  coats  of  mail, 
spears,  bows,  food,  and  each  a  horn  full  of  Grecian  wine,  will  con 
tinue  upon  our  wanderings  to  the  end  of  the  world.  All  entreaties  to 
remain  will  be  of  no  avail. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  in  the  dense  fog  and  darkness  of  night, 
shortly  before  our  great  ship  sailed  with  striking  keel,  over  the  rocks 
at  the  entrance  of  this  bay,  we,  in  the  impenetrable  darkness,  on  hear 
ing  the  roar  of  mighty  breakers  on  shore,  thought  to  a  certainty  that  it 
was  the  roar  of  the  ocean  falling  over  the  end  of  the  world.  The 
sound  grew  louder  and  louder,  and  as  we,  in  the  pitchy  darkness,  were 
waiting  and  listening  in  great  suspense,  the  ship's  keel  struck  again 
and  again,  until  all  at  once  the  grand  ship  stood  still,  and  upon  pierc 
ing  through  the  dark  mist  of  the  night  from  the  bow  of  the  ship  we 
found  that  our  ship  had  run  on  land,  and  that  we  had  not  yet  arrived 
at  the  end  of  the  world.  Thus  has  been  the  decree  of  Fate. 

"The  loud  roaring  of  waters  was  the  roaring  of  the  mighty  break 
ers  near  the  shore. 

"And  now,  noble  Four  Hundred,  although  Anaxogerous  goes  with 
us,  his  records  shall  remain  with  the  ship's  records.  We  conspirators 
care  not  for  and  will  need  no  records  of  our  wanderings,  which  we  are 


The  Ship  Aeolus  Run  on  Land,  373 

determined  will  not  cease  until  we  have  been  swept  or  have  walked 
over  the  brink  of  the  world.  And  now,  noble  Four  Hundred,  farewell! 
farewell !" 

Scriborites : 

Against  the  entreaties  of  the  voyagers,  the  self-confessed  con 
spirators,  including  fellow  Anaxogerous,  who  was  night  scribe  on  the 
ship,  have  wandered  out  of  sight,  westward,  never  again  to  return. 

The  voyagers  have  erected  many  small  tents  out  of  the  ship's  sails ; 
for  in  the  sun  here,  it  is  very  hot.  Many  articles  from  the  ship  are 
taken  to  one  of  the  strongest  tents,  which  is  fastened  with  many  ropes. 
The  Committee  of  Twenty,  who  traveled  over  and  viewed  the  sur 
rounding  lands  for  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  has  returned. 

Terrafirma,  one  of  the  number,  standing  on  a  large  rock,   surrounded 
by  the  voyagers,  said: 

"Fellow  Castaways,  at  the  north  end  of  this  bay  is  a  small  river. 
Outside,  in  the  ocean,  to  the  north,  is  an  island.  In  traveling  from  the 
north,  around  in  a  circle  to  the  south,  we  observed  many  kinds  of 
thrifty,  growing  trees;  mahogany,  palms,  oak,  and  many  other  kinds 
of  trees;  also  nut-bearing  trees  and  fruit  trees  of  many  kinds,  maize 
and  several  kinds  of  berries  and  bananas. 

"Fellow  adventurers,  these  shores,  we  find,  from  the  luxurious 
growth  of  plants  and  trees,  will,  with  little  labor,  produce  more  than 
necessary  for  our  subsistence.  (Applause.) 

"There  are  springs  of  clear  water,  also  stones  and  rocks  suitable  for 
the  construction  of  temples  and  houses.  To  the  west  is  a  range  of 
high  hills  running  north  and  south.  We  have  as  yet  seen  no  living 
things,  excepting  very  small  game  and  birds  of  many  kinds." 

Sophon,  of  the  committee,  also  said :  "A  short  distance  inland,  near 
the  hills,  is  a  clear  spring  and  a  slightly  elevated  plateau — a  very  suit 
able  place  to  build  a  city.  We  can,  from  time  to  time,  carry  the  dis 
mantled  parts  of  the  ship  to  that  large,  open  plateau.  From  the  large 
rocks,  which  lie  in  layers,  forming  the  hills  close  by,  our  temples  and 
houses  can  be  constructed  for  all." 

Pindarus  said:  "Fellow  Castaways!  we  have  heard  from  the  Com 
mittee  of  Twenty,  and  we  also  from  the  surroundings  can  see  the  lux 
urious  growth  of  plants,  shrubs  and  trees,  that  the  land  to  which  the 
Fates  have  banished  us  will  supply  us  with  ample  food,  if  we  are  will 
ing,  as  we  all  certainly  are,  to  work  and  dig  for  it.  The  extreme  rays 
of  the  sun,  the  hot  climate,  fruits  and  trees  such  as  the  banana,  and 
the  cocoanut  palm  trees,  show  that  the  land  to  which  we  have  been 
fated  must  lie  further  south  than  our  native  Greece.  If  it  is  continu 
ally  hot  here,  it  will  lessen  our  labor  for  the  supply  of  garments,  and 
in  time,  we  very  likely  can  go  nearly  naked." 


374  Athonia;  ar,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ALL  BOUND  IN  THE  HAPPY  BONDS  OF  WEDLOCK 

Hypnothoon,  standing  on  a  low,  flat  rock,  said:  "Fellow  discover 
ers,  it  is  the  wish  of  both  men  and  maidens  that  an  important  ques 
tion  should  be  settled  before  Phoebus  descends  down  the  west  side  of 
the  world.  We  all  know  that  never  again  can  we  return  to  Athens. 
We  know  it  is  the  will  of  the  gods  that  we  should  be  wafted  here,  and 
that  we  should  remain  here.  We  know,  and  we  feel,  and  the  gods  have 
ever  so  spoken,  that  it  is  not  well  for  man  or  maiden  to  live  apart. 

"We  all  know  Aphrodite,  the  foam-born  goddess,  and  her  little  archer 
son  Cupid,  were  by  the  rules  of  order  of  our  ship  forbidden  to  appear 
on  our  ship. 

"But  we  also  all  know  that  upon  sailing  out  on  the  great  unknown 
ocean  all  rules  of  order  were  thrown  overboard,  as  it  were. 

"Immediately,  Aphrodite  (Venus)  and  her  son  Cupid  made  their 
presence  known.  First,  by  deep,  soulful,  loving  eyes,  speaking  in  a 
more  confident,  true,  loving,  longing  language  than  words  can  ever  im 
part.  Cupid  lost  no  time,  for  with  his  silvery  bow  and  golden  dart,  he 
eagerly  busied  himself,  piercing  hearts  in  his  very  agreeable  and  lovely 
manner,  and  thus  brought  in  close  touch  such  and  such.  Waves  of 
deep  jealousy  also  found  a  home  on  our  ship  for  a  time;  and,  like 
flashes  of  fiery  lightning  and  thunder,  raged  to  and  fro  from  stern  to 
bow. 

"But  by  the  strenuous  efforts  of  Venus  and  Cupid  the  storm  was 
brought  to  subside  and  we  beheld  on  the  ship's  deck  a  beautiful,  lovely 
rainbow,  auguring  that  hence  forth,  beautiful,  harmonious  love  would 
prevail  among  all  the  voyagers  of  the  ship.  And  so  it  was.  For  the 
most  certain  sensitive  feelings  of  the  human  heart  had  harmoniously 
adjusted  themselves  and  loving  concord  reigned  throughout  our  great 
ship. 

"We  are  not  strangers  to  each  other.  O,  now,  don't  smile!  I  mean 
to  say  that  we  know  each  other.  O,  now,  don't  laugh! 

"A  great,  earnest  question  for  each  of  us  is  to  be  determined,  set 
tled  before  the  shades  of  night  settle  over  the  land.  You  all  seem  to 
act  and  smile  as  if  that  question  already  had  been  happily  settled. 

"Fellow  discoverers  of  a  new  world,  we  all  feel  that  the  Fates  have 
decreed  that  we  here  should  build  up  a  great,  new  nation.  Before 
forming  laws  for  such  a  nation  we  must  first  obey  the  laws  formulated 
by  the  gods  for  the  preservation  of  our  species — the  human  race. 
(Laughter  and  applause.) 

"To  speak  plainly,  the  Fates  have  decreed  that  we  are  to  be  the 
progenitors  of  the  race — of  a  people  who  are  to  constitute  the  great 
new  nation  on  this  far  distant  new  shore.  To  this  great,  responsible 
problem  have  the  gods  seen  fit  to  honor  us,  the  Four  Hundred  of 
Athens.  In  looking  into  the  future  before  us,  we  can  know  that  not 


The  Ship  Aeolus  Run  on  Land  375 

much  time  should  be  given  to  philosophizing,  but  unceasing,  indefatig 
able  work — labor  of  muscle  mostly — does  the  location,  situation  and 
condition  around  us  demand.  Not  many  words  are  necessary  now;  but 
work,  labor,  action,  for  many,  many  moons  to  come,  is  pointed  out  to 
us  by  the  finger  of  progress,  if  we  aspire  to  the  building  up  of  a  great 
nation  here.  Therefore,  before  forming  laws  for  that  great  nation,  we 
must  first  follow  and  obey  the  laws  formulated  by  the  gods,  for  in 
creasing  the  population  of  a  nation.  Therefore,  plainly,  be  it  said,  be 
fore  Phoebus  sets  in  the  west,  each  man  and  maiden  of  us  must  be 
mated  and  thus  remain  mated  until  death  breaks  the  sacred  bond. 
Orato  will  now  solemnize  the  sacred  bond  by  fitting  ceremonies." 

Orato  took  the  place  of  Hypnothoon,  on  the  slightly  elevated  rock, 
and  said :  "Noble  fellow  discoverers  of  a  new  world,  long  could  be  my 
discourse  upon  this  sacred,  important  and  happy  occasion;  but  we  all 
realize  that  we  have  not  landed  in  a  country  of  many  words,  but  in  a 
country  of  action. 

"We  will  not  have  spare  time,  like  our  Athenian  philosophers,  for 
many  words,  long  speculations  and  orations;  for  bare  is  this  new  land 
of  homes  and  temples.  Subsistence  can  be  only  obtained  by  strength 
of  our  own  muscles.  I  must  not  forget,  few  must  be  the  words. 

"Fellow  builders  of  a  great  nation,  there  are  three  most  important 
events  in  human  life.  First,  birth;  second,  marriage;  third,  death. 
At  the  first,  we  are  present,  but  know  it  not.  At  the  third  and  last 
we  are  absent  and  know  it  not.  But  at  the  second  great  event  we  are 
present  and  know  and  feel  its  bliss  and  extreme  happiness.  Extreme 
happiness  only  faintly  expresses  the  great  joy  upon  which  newly  mar 
ried  couples  enter. 

"Beyond  all  doubt  the  gods  have  willed  it  that  the  Four  Hundred 
of  Athens  should  sail  to  a  distant,  strange  land,  and  people  the  same 
with  their  descendants,  to  form  a  great  nation  of  people  whose  excel 
lencies  are  above  and  beyond  those  of  all  other  mortals. 

"Upon  this  auspicious  day  are  we  all  to  join  in  the  sacred  bonds  of 
wedlock.  And  who  is  it  that  are  thus  to  join?  It  is  the  Four  Hundred 
of  Athens,  in  the  first  full  blush  of  manhood  and  womanhood — favored 
by  the  gods  with  beauty,  stateliness,  nobility,  teeming  with  health,  and 
blessed  with  cheerful,  noble,  fearless,  daring  dispositions.  Such  are 
this  day,  now,  to  be  mated  for  life.  The  teeming  health  of  youth,  the 
glowing  countenances,  and  the  joyful,  dancing  eyes  speak  better  than 
words  that  the  second  important  event  in  life,  marriage,  is  the  most 
blissful  of  all.  Fellows  in  bliss,  knowing  that  you  have  all  found  your 
selves,  Marstenes,  commander  of  us  warrior  voyagers,  on  our  ill-fated 
ship,  will  now,  as  a  first  couple,  lead  in  the  march  and  form  a  column 
to  the  west  of  me." 


376  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Scriborites : 

Orato,  standing  in  front  of  the  long  column,  said:  "Noble  couples, 
we  all  know  each  other  well,  for  we  have  been  for  many  moons  thrown 
close  together  in  the  ship's  walls,  and  have  sailed  together  through 
storms,  thunder  and  lightning,  calms  and  dense  fogs,  until  now  we  find 
ourselves  thrown  upon  this  ever  to  remain  distant,  strange  land.  We 
all  sailed  on  our  ill-fated  ship  with  the  self -same  purpose  in  hearts  and 
minds — Commerce  for  the  glory  of  Athens  and  Greece.  We  fought  side 
by  side  at  landings  against  a  common  foe.  On  our  great  ship,  on  the 
greatest  and  grandest  of  all  voyages  ever  planned  by  mortals,  we 
joyed  together,  feared,  dared,  braved,  played,  sang,  laughed,  danced  and 
hoped,  until  thrown  upon  this  distant,  unknown  land.  And  as  we  now 
stand  together  in  couples  we  can  but  admit: 

In  calm  or  storm,  in  joy  or  fear, 
'Twas  always  one  who  was  most  dear. 
The  splashing  spray  and  wind  oft  said : 
'Tis  he,  'tis  she,  that  soon  will  wed. 

"I  must  not  lose  time  by  attempting  to  ride  Pegasus,  for  Phoebus  is 
inclining  towards  the  west.  Noble  Four  Hundred,  if  we,  as  we  are 
now,  could  be  transported  as  by  magic  to  distant  Athens  the  cere 
monies  on  this  important  occasion  would  be  attended  by  the  greatest 
possible  pomp  in  the  presence  of  the  highest  nobles  and  most  noted 
philosophers,  who  would  fill  our  ears  with  endless  words  of  laudation 
and  advice.  But  simple  and  short,  though  not  less  binding,  must  be 
our  marriage  ceremony  this  day. 

"Each  couple,  as  I  appear  before  them,  will  face  each  other  and  hold 
each  other  by  both  hands,  signifying  that  they  are  as  one." 

Orato  walked  up  to  the  couple  at  one  end  of  the  column,  to  whom, 
after  they  had  faced  each  other,  with  both  hands  clasped,  he  said: 
"Noble,  brave  Marstenes,  art  thou  healthy  in  body  and  mind?"  "I  am." 

"Noble,  brave  Marstenes,  have  you  asked  Orientes  to  become  your 
wife?" 

"I  have." 

"Noble  Orientes,  are  you  healthy  in  body  and  mind?"  "I  am." 
"Have  you  consented  to  become  noble  Marstenes  wife?" 

"I  have." 

"I  ask  you  jointly,  will  you  cling  to  each  other  only,  and  forsake 
all  others  until  death  calls  one  of  you  to  the  shades  below?" 

"Yes,  "yes." 

"Will  you  throughout  your  joint  lives  lavish  your  kisses  on  each 
other,  your  parents  and  your  offsprings  only,  heeding  no  others?" 

"Yes,  yes." 

"Are  you  fully  conscious  of  the  great  responsibility  parents  have 
for  their  children?" 


The  Ship  Aeolus  Run  on  Land  377 

Both  answer  "Yes." 

"Are  you  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  for  the  sake  of  future  gen 
erations,  even  unto  the  fourth  generation,  parents  must  strive  to  live 
a  strenuous,  healthy,  brave  and  noble  life?" 

Both  answer,  "We  are." 

"Have  you  fully  weighed  the  saying  of  our  most  noted  Grecian 
bards  and  philosophers  that  the  most  sacred,  the  most  important,  the 
greatest  of  achievements  of  a  family,  a  community,  a  city,  a  nation,  is 
the  strength,  health,  beauty,  fearlessness  and  nobility  of  its  children — 
of  its  manhood  and  its  womanhood?" 

"We  have,"  both  answered. 

"Noble  Marstenes  and  noble  Orientes,  will  you  teach  your  off 
spring  to  revere  the  gods  of  our  brave  Grecian  forefathers?" 

Both  answer,  "We  will." 

"Will  it  be  your  care  that  your  offspring  receive  true  Spartan- 
Athenian  training  and  teaching,  so  that  they  can  be  brave,  fearless, 
strong,  protectors  of  the  state?" 

Both  answer,  "We  will." 

"Noble  Marstenes,  noble  Orientes,  you  may  now  seal  the  sacred 
vow  by  kissing  each  other  seven  times.  In  the  presence  of  the  many 
witnesses,  by  the  virtue  of  the  power  invested  in  me,  by  the  Four 
Hundred  of  Athens,  and  the  gods  of  our  forefathers,  I  now  declare  you 
to  be  man  and  wife." 

In  similar  manner  Orato  passed  on  until  all  of  the  voyagers  were 
bound  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock. 

The  same  ceremony  for  Orato  and  Cynthia  was  performed  by 
Hypnothoon. 

The  following  day  it  was  agreed  to  carry  all  tents  and  records  of 
the  ship  further  inland  to  a  large,  slightly  elevated  plateau,  near  which 
a  spring  of  clear  water  and  also  building  stone  existed  in  great  abun 
dance.  After  several  days  of  hard  labor  the  great  ship  was  totally 
dismantled,  and  its  planks,  masts,  booms,  ropes,  sails  and  flags  trans 
ported  inland  to  the  plateau. 

Resignates,  blindfolded,  shot  an  arrow  towards  the  zenith  of 
the  sky  and  the  spot  where  the  arrow  fell  was  selected  as  the  place  for 
the  first  building  to  be  erected.  After  a  number  of  days,  by  the  com 
bined  labor  of  all,  a  large,  one-story  building,  with  two  hundred  rooms 
and  a  large,  long  hall  in  the  center,  stood  completed. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


NAMING   THEIR   CITY 

It  was  agreed  that  the  site  of  their  future  city,  of  which  now  one 
large,  durable,  stone  building  stood  completed,  should  receive  a  name. 
At  a  general  discussion,  held  for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  city,  an 
endless  number  of  names  were  proposed,  including  Ajax,  New  Greece, 
Hellas,  Phoebus,  New  Attica,  Homer,  Achilles,  etc. 

Some  also  proposed  Aeolus,  because  he  had  blown  them  there. 
Others,  Olympia,  to  remind  them  of  their  Olympian  gods.  Some  of  the 
maidens  proposed  Iris,  which  they  said,  like  the  rainbow,  signified 
hope.  Many  other  names  were  proposed.  For  each  name  proposed 
there  were  reasons  given. 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  spoke  up  with  great  enthusiasm,  saying : 
"We  have  all  overlooked  one  name,  and  I  am  quite  sure  you  will  all 
agree  with  me  that  we  call  our  city  by  the  name  of  New  Athens,  in 
honor  of  our  native  never-again-to-be-seen,  but  always  to  be  remem 
bered,  beautiful,  violet-crowned  Athens." 

Loud  cheers  greeted  his  proposal,  and  it  was  just  about  as  good  as 
settled  that  New  Athens  should  be  the  name  of  the  great  city  to  be. 

One  of  the  men  voyagers  said:  "How  would  Polybus  sound?"  All 
the  maidens  shouted:  "No!  No!  No!"  He  was  mystery  itself.  We 
hope  he  will  reach  the  end  of  the  world  and  jump  off.  But  we  do  not 
wish  the  same  fate  for  Captain  Arteus  and  others  that  wandered  forth 
with  him. 

"New  Athens!  New  Athens!  New  Athens!"  shouted  all  quite  unani 
mously. 

Udina,  wife  of  Sophon,  standing  on  a  flat,  large  boulder,  spoke  up 
and  said:  "Fellow  discoverers,  I  do  not  know  whether  we  discovered 
this  new  land  or  whether  this  new  land  discovered  us,  but  it  makes  no 
difference.  We  are  here  to  stay.  Fellow  discoverers,  I  do  not  think 
we  ought  to  name  our  city  New  Athens,  not  because  I  love  our  native 
Athens  less,  but  perhaps  because  I  love  our  Athens  more,  if  that  is 
possible.  It  seems  I  can  hear  some  Athenian  philosopher,  standing  on 
the  Acropolis,  speak  to  us,  over  the  dreadful  never  again  to  be  crossed 
ocean,  saying,  for  Athens:  'Save  me  from  my  well-meaning  children. 
Save  me  from  my  friends.' 

"Yes,  I  also  say,  save  the  name  Athens  for  our  grand,  cultured 

378 


Naming  Their  City  379 

native  city  of  Athens  only.    Let  there  be  only  one  Athens.  (Applause.) 
One  beloved  native  Athens  of  Attica.     (Applause.) 

"Fellow  builders  of  a  new  city,  what  is  a  name  for?  The  object  of 
a  name  is  to  distinguish  a  person,  thing  or  city  from  all  other  persons, 
things  or  cities,  in  order  to  know  which  or  what  person,  thing  or  city 
one  means,  and  is  talking  about.  It  is  proposed  to  use  the  word  'New' 
and  call  it  'New  Athens.'  Then,  in  talking,  our  beloved  native  city 
would  often  be  referred  to  as  'Old  Athens.'  Again,  I  can  hear  from 
across  the  far  distant  waters :  'Save  me  from  my  friends.'  Fellow  dis 
coverers,  if  the  object  of  giving  a  person,  thing  or  city  a  name  is  for 
the  purpose  of  distinguishing  the  person,  thing  or  city  from  all  other 
persons,  things  or  cities,  then  using  the  same  name  over  and  over  again 
lessens  the  object  of  a  name  and  instead  of  distinguishing  the  person, 
thing  or  city  apart  from  others  it  tends  to  practically  extinguish  the 
name,  or  at  least  makes  a  name  less  useful,  and  causes  misunderstand 
ing  and  confusion.  I  will  say  no  more;  but  can  we  not  discover  some 
name  that  will  not  come  in  conflict  with  that  of  our  ever  to  be  re 
membered  city  of  Attica." 

Loria,  wife  of  Pindarus,  spoke  up  and  said :  "Fellow  namers  of  our 
new  city:  At  first,  when  Undiua  spoke,  there  was  an  ominous  lull; 
but  as  she  explained  and  unfolded  her  views  the  applause  grew  louder 
and  louder  until  it  now  seems  that  we  are  all  agreed  that  the  name  of 
our  grand  city-to-be  should  not  come  in  conflict  with  the  name  Athens. 
But  I  believe  that  we  all  feel  that  in  naming  our  new  city  we  ought 
at  the  same  time  give  it  a  name  that  will  honor  and  constantly  remind 
us  of  our  native  city.  (Applause.)  Therefore  I  propose  that  our  city 
be  named  Athonia,  in  honor  and  in  remembrance  of  Athens."  (Great 
applause  follows)  with  a  shouting  of  "Athonia!  Athonia!  Athonia!" 
Meander  arose  and  said:  "Fellow  namers  of  a  city  to  be:  I  take 
the  liberty  of  saying  that  all  of  us  who  are  for  naming  our  city 
Athonia  step  to  the  right  side  of  this  rock.  All  walked  immediately 
over  to  that  side.  Meander  continued:  "As  we  are  unanimously 
agreed  on  the  name  Athonia  we  now,  in  this  strange  land,  know  in 
what  city  we  dwell,  namely,  in  the  city  of  Athonia.  (Great  applause.) 
The  Fates  have  reserved  the  honor  of  naming  our  new  city  for  one  of 
our  women  citizens.  (Applause.) 

"That  our  labor  and  thoughts  will  be  given  to  make  Athonia,  in 
time,  a  noble  city,  needs  not  to  be  attested  by  words.  We  might  have 
called  our  city  New  Athens,  for  Athens  will  never  hear  of  us  again, 
and  we  will  never  hear  of  Athens  again. 

"But  Athonia  now  is  its  name;  and  often  will  we  with  sacrifice 
invoke  the  aids  of  our  Gods  to  make  Athonia  a  city  worthy  of 
renown  and  its  people  from  generation  to  generation  the  noblest  of  the 
earth.  (Applause.) 


380  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"We  know  we  are  here;  but  still  we  don't  know  where  we  are. 
But  as  our  new  dwelling  place  has  been  given  a  name,  we  all  feel  more 
at  home,  for  we  all  feel  that  now  we  are  in  our  new  city  of  Athonia. 
(Applause.)  We  all  know  that  the  large,  stone  temple  we  have  built 
is  very  durable,  but  severely  plain.  So,  also,  even  throughout  our 
generation,  perhaps,  will  all  the  temples  and  buildings  of  our  city  of 
Athonia  be  built  plain,  without  ornamentation  and  without  much  re 
gard  to  beauty. 

"But  we  will  rehearse  to  our  citizens  of  the  future  of  the  beauty 
and  grandeur  of  the  temples  and  statues  at  Athens  and  thus  im 
part  a  knowledge  and  longing  for  the  beautiful  in  art  and  create  a 
desire  for  the  beautiful  that  will  eventually  find  tangible  form,  visible 
expression  in  the  temples,  houses,  and  works  of  art  of  the  far  distant 
future  of  Athonia. 

"We  all  know  that  we  must  toil  throughout  our  whole  generation 
at  the  very  foundation  of  things ;  we  must  work  to  build  and  secure  the 
first  necessaries  of  life. 

"Although  in  our  large,  stone  building  there  are  securely  stored  a 
large  quantity  of  food  and  Grecian  wine,  weapons,  wares,  and  things 
of  many  kinds  taken  from  our  grand  ship,  a  large  number  of  articles 
will  have  been  consumed  before  the  passing  of  many  moons.  The 
ship's  sails  serve  us  well  for  tents  in  this  hot  climate.  The  ship's 
masts,  booms,  planks  and  boards  also  are  available  for  many  pur 
poses. 

"But  the  building  of  a  city  requires  many  things.  To  secure  the 
things  necessary  for  our  existence,  protection,  comfort  and  enjoyment 
of  life,  we  know  will  require  the  work  of  all  of  us.  The  committee 
that  has  explored  the  country  around  to  a  great  distance  inland  say 
that  they  met  with  no  large  animals  and  they  believe  that  in  our  new 
land  there  are  no  draft  animals  or  beasts  of  burden,  such  as  the  camel, 
ass,  ox,  or  horse.  Therefore  we,  on  this  far  off  distant  new  land,  are 
placed  at  a  great  disadvantage  in  building  up  a  great  city  in  compari 
son  with  people  who  live  across  the  broad,  trackless,  unknown  ocean 
and  lands  towards  the  rising  sun.  In  the  construction  of  our  first 
large,  stone  building,  we  sorely  missed  the  powerful  aid  of  camel,  ass, 
horse  and  ox. 

"Many  peoples  without  the  aid  of  draft  animals  or  beasts  of  bur 
den,  would  not  have  accomplished  what  we  have  accomplished  in  the 
building  of  our  large,  stone  temple.  It  will  endure  for  all  time;  but 
we  feel  that  we  must  drop  all  attempts  at  ornamentation,  for  our 
whole  strength  and  time  will  it  require  to  build  and  construct  and 
produce  the  necessary  comforts  of  life. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  we  feel  that  a  country  whose  people  have  pow 
erful  draft  animals  and  beasts  of  burden  to  assist  them,  all  other 


Naming  Their  City  381 

things  being  equal,  will  progress  more  easily  and  rapidly,  and  its  peo 
ple  live  on  a  higher  plane  of  civilization  than  in  a  country  where  such 
aid  is  wholly  absent.  A  slight  difference  in  advantages  may  make  a 
very  great  difference  in  the  progress  and  development  of  a  people;  a 
difference  of  advantage  such  as  the  aid  of  powerful  animals  may  be 
the  cause  of  a  people's  steady  progress,  while  the  absence  of  such  aid 
may  be  the  cause  of  a  people's  almost  total  standstill.  Never  before 
have  we  fully  realized  the  usefulness  to  man  of  the  draft  animals  and 
beasts  of  burden.  Yes,  when  the  well  is  dry,  we  fully  realize  the  value 
of  water.  Much  praise  could  each  of  us  bestow  upon  the  powerful, 
willing  beast  that  in  so  many  ways  lighten  man's  labor. 

"But  the  gods  have  seen  fit  to  waft  us  on  these  shores,  where  such 
animals  do  not  exist.  We  must  rely  wholly  on  our  strong  muscles  and 
minds.  This  fact  will  not  deter  us,  however,  in  our  determination  to 
labor  and  progress.  For,  if  it  did,  we  would  not  be  true,  worthy  sons 
and  daughters  of  our  noble  Grecian  fathers  and  mothers."  (Great 
applause. ) 

Cynthia,  wife  of  Orato,  spoke  up  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  if 
there  are  no  oxen  on  this  wild,  unknown  land,  then  also  the  cow  is 
absent.  Sheep,  goats,  also,  perhaps.  That  also  places  us  at  a  great 
disadvantage.  For  milk  and  the  firstlings  of  calves  we  will  not  have. 
And  for  garments,  also,  no  wool  will  we  have  to  spin.  But  the  gods 
have  saved  us  from  total  destruction  by  guiding  our  ship  to  these 
shores,  and  we  must  be  grateful." 

Zenothes,  who  had  been  one  of  the  exploring  expedition  in  the 
country  around,  said :  "Fellow  Athenians,  although  we  have  no  sheep 
or  wool,  we  have  found  the  most  beautiful  cotton  growing  near  the 
seashore.  This,  we  can  cultivate  so  it  will  grow  in  great  abundance 
and  spin  and  weave  it  into  raiment.  We  will  not  need  much  raiment 
here,  for  we  have  landed  in  a  hot  climate,  where  raiment  of  any  kind 
is  almost  a  burden." 

Cormandes  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  I  suggest  that  one  of  our 
artists  engrave  the  name  Athonia  on  some  prominent  stone  of  this,  our 
first  home  and  temple."  (Applause.) 

Beotheo,  wife  of  Hypnothoon,  standing  on  a  rock,  said:  "Fellow 
Athenians,  I  suggest  that  there  be  engraven  on  some  prominent  stone 
of  our  building: 

"THE  FOUR  HUNDRED  OF  ATHENS 

were  wafted  here  on  the  great  ship  Aeolus 

and  established  the  city  of 

ATHONIA."  (Applause.) 

Orthocles  and  Graphitus  agreed  to  engrave  it. 

Restocious  spoke  from  a  slightly  elevated  rock  and  extemporized 
as  follows :  "Fellow  Athenians, 


382  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Athonia,"  the  name  of  our  city  shall  be, 
Established  by  rovers  from  over  the  sea, 
Who  sailed  on  a  ship,  the  "Aeolus"  so  grand, 
From  shores  far  east  in  Attica's  land. 

O,  may  our  Athonia  prosper  and  grow, 
Although  the  great  world  it  never  can  know 
Or  hear  its  fair  name,  its  fall  or  its  rise, 
For  here  we  all  dwell,  beyond  the  world's  eyes. 

Conspirators  thought  to  pour  us  all  o'er 
The  end  of  the  world  with  ocean's  loud  roar. 
But  Gods  intervened— the  ship,  it  struck  land, 
And  thus  our  ship  sailed  not,  as  secretly  planned. 

Our  thanks  to  the  Gods  will  endless  be  given, 
For  lacking  their  aid,  our  ship  would  have  driven, 
By  wind's  favoring  breeze  and  tide's  awful  power, 
O'er  the  end  of  the  world,  where  oceans  devour. 

We  are  blown  like  the  seeds  of  flowers  are  blown, 
To  far  distant  shores,  wild  and  unknown; 
And,  too,  like  the  seeds,  we  here  must  remain; 
The  Gods  willed  it  so,  we  must  not  complain. 

Athonia,  a  nucleus,  O,  may  it  be 

Of  a  nation  of  heroes,  powerful  and  free, 

Whose  sons  and  whose  daughters  will  proudly  relate 

"The  Four  Hundred  of  Athens's"  wonderful  fate.    (Applause.) 

Orato,  standing  under  a  mahogany  tree,  two  censers  swinging  from 
its  limbs  from  which  incense  arose,  surrounded  by  all  Athenians, 
prayed,  "O,  ye  gods  of  Greece,  our  faith  and  our  friendship  will  never 
cease.  Although  cast  upon  this  great,  unknown  land,  we  realize  that 
your  powers  hold  sway  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.  From  the  high 
Olympian  abode  you  can  look  to  the  ends  of  the  world.  Our  fate  is 
also  seen  and  known  to  you,  although  in  a  far  distant,  new  land  we  will 
not  worship  new  gods.  The  gods  of  our  fathers  shall  be  the  gods  of 
our  coming  generations  without  end.  Sacrifice  shall  arise  to  thee,  not 
bloody  sacrifice,  but  such  as  we  gather  from  the  fields,  forests,  rare 
shrubs,  vine,  sweet-scented  flowers  and  firstlings  of  fruits  and  rare 
incenses  such  as  you  desire  to  be  given  by  such  as  are  the  noble  of 
the  earth.  We  humbly  beseech  thee,  bless  Athonia  with  progress  and 
in  the  end  of  distant  moons  with  greatness  and  renown.  Zeus,  Olym 
pian  gods  of  our  fathers,  O,  we  beseech  ye,  beckon  Pallas  Athene,  the 
wise,  blue-eyed  goddess,  to  hover  over  the  destinies  of  our  new  city  of 
Athonia.  Minerva  (Athena),  who  imbued  our  forefathers,  of  our  never 
again  to  be  seen  Athens,  with  a  superior  spirit  of  courage  and  refined 
progress.  O,  Zeus,  Olympian  gods,  all,  may  Minerva,  who  was  on  the 
side  of  our  forefathers,  in  the  Siege  of  Troy, — Minerva,  who  has  always 
lent  her  power  and  wisdom  to  tne  side  of  noble,  human  progress, — 


Naming  Their  City  383 

Minerva,  who  in  war  or  peace,  imparted  to  our  Athenian  people  supe 
rior  courage,  strength  and  skill — Minerva  (Athena),  after  whom  the 
city  of  Athens  was  named,  for  the  friendship  and  great  favor  she 
bestowed  upon  our  Grecian  race, — O,  we  also,  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  Athens,  who  have  been  cast  on  this  great,  unknown  land,  humbly 
pray,  implore,  invoke  her  favors  and  blessings  for  the  greatness  and 
glory  of  Athonia.  *  *  *  O,  Minerva !  wise,  skillful,  courageous 
goddess,  on  this  great,  distant,  unknown  shore,  we  also  have  named 
our  new  city  Athonia,  in  honor  and  sacred  remembrance  of  thy  special 
favors  shown  in  war  and  peace  to  the  city  of  our  fathers. 

"O,  ye  gods  of  our  fathers,  we  the  'Four  Hundred  of  Athens,'  cast 
upon  this  shore,  cannot,  without  your  friendship  and  favor,  take  root 
and  thrive  on  this  new  land,  nor  can,  without  your  favor,  any  city 
thrive  and  prosper.  *  *  *  Next  to  thee,  in  wisdom,  O  Zeus,  is 
Minerva,  who  sprang  forth,  full-armed  from  thy  head.  O,  Minerva, 
thy  favor  in  battle  leads  on  to  victory,  and  through  victory  to  peace 
and  prosperity.  O,  courageous,  wise,  cheerful  Minerva,  thou  it  was 
that  inspired  our  forefathers  with  an  unending,  restless  desire  for 
thoughtful  labor,  thus  changing  our  barbarous,  wild,  forefathers  from 
hunters  in  the  wild  forests  to  builders  of  cities  of  power,  comfort, 
refinement  and  renown.  Thou  it  was  that  brought  our  forefathers  out 
of  the  woods.  Thou,  O,  blue-eyed  goddess,  it  was,  that  taught  our 
forefathers  that  human  greatness,  power,  progress,  prosperity  and  re 
finement  can  be  achieved  only  in  the  sweat  of  the  brow  through  toil — 
work — labor.  Thou,  O  Minerva,  hast  taught  our  forefathers  that  labor 
is  the  foundation  of  all  progress  and  prosperity. 

"Labor,  O  labor,  what  progress  and  prosperity  thou  spreadest  over 
the  world.  Labor,  by  its  fruits,  blesses  him  that  labors.  Labor  puri 
fies  and  ennobles  the  human  mind.  O,  courageous,  wise,  skillful, 
Athena  (Minerva),  thou  hast  taught  our  Grecian  forefathers  that 
brave,  noble,  powerful,  aggressive  warriors  lead  to  victory,  victory 
leads  to  peace,  peace  to  labor  and  labor  to  a  nation's  wealth,  power, 
greatness  and  renown.  Base  and  evil  thoughts  find  not  easily  a  home 
in  the  mind  of  him  that  labors.  Most  skillful  Athena,  thou  hast  first 
taught  our  Grecian  forefathers  to  cleave  the  rock  and  build  temples, 
and  the  maidens  and  women  to  spin  and  weave  invisible  gossamer  to 
the  strong  sails  for  ships.  Thus,  O  Athena,  hast  thou  made  the  bless 
ings  of  labor  known  unto  them.  Foundations  unseen  and  colossal, 
coarse  work,  we  have  observed  often  require  the  finest  grains  of 
thought.  Thou  hast  taught  us,  on  the  building  of  temples,  to  honor 
those  who  laid  the  unseen  foundation  stone,  up  to  those  who  gilded 
the  dome  that  glistens  in  the  sunshine  and  proudly  points  to  the 
passing  clouds.  O,  Athena,  the  building  of  our  new  city  of  Athonia 
cannot  be  achieved  without  great,  unceasing,  indefatigable,  thoughtful 


384  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

labor.  The  'Four  Hundred  of  Athens'  have  been  blessed  by  Olympian 
gods  with  superior  excellencies,  including  courage,  strength,  beauty, 
wisdom  and  skill.  The  restless  spirit  to  labor  and  to  do,  ever  striving, 
progressingly  onward,  have  they  also  inherited  from  our  fathers. 

"We  behold  about  us  a  thriving  soil;  and  if  our  hands  and  minds 
are  willing  the  fruits  of  the  earth  will  meet  us  more  than  half  way. 
O,  Athena,  we  humbly  implore  thee,  allow  not  the  inherited  spirit  of 
a  thoughtful  desire  to  labor,  dimmish  or  ever  wane;  for  only  by  the 
impulse  of  that  spirit  with  which  thou  hast  blessed  our  fathers  can 
our  prospective  Athonia  become  a  reality.  O,  Athena,  if  ever  the 
'Four  Hundred  of  Athens'  desire  and  willingness  to  toil,  work,  labor 
should  cease,  it  would  lead  all  of  us  into  these  surrounding,  dense 
jungles,  to  dwell,  wander,  hunt  and  battle  with  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forests.  It  would  bring  us  all  back  again  to  the  wild,  savage  state  of 
primeval  ancestors.  Thus  would,  O  Athena,  the  blessings  inherited 
from  our  Grecian  forefathers  all  come  to  naught.  Therefore  we  hum 
bly  pray,  O  Athena,  spare  us  from  such  a  direful  loss — the  desire  to 
labor.  O,  we  humbly  pray,  turn  us  not  back  again  into  the  wilderness, 
into  savage  hunters  or  nomads.  O,  ye  gods,  who  have  saved  the  Four 
Hundred  of  Athens  from  total  annihilation  by  covering  the  sea  with 
dense  fog  and  moving  the  arms  of  the  helmsman  so  that  our  ship 
struck  this  great,  unknown  land,  and  thus  saved  us  from  sailing  over 
the  end  of  the  world;  it  was  thy  will  that  the  'Four  Hundred  of 
Athens'  should  dwell  in  this  land.  And  your  assistance  to  prosper,  do 
we  also  implore.  O,  ye  gods  of  our  fathers,  it  is  known  to  ye  that  the 
'Four  Hundred  of  Athens'  are  all  graduates  of  our  Athenian  philo 
sophical  schools.  All  are  equal  in  beauty,  stateliness,  gracefulness, 
courage,  strength,  skill  and  wisdom.  Never  before  on  this  world's 
wide  plain  was  there  such  a  community  where  all  are  equal;  for  all 
communities  of  the  world,  like  that  of  our  fathers  have  made  slaves 
of  their  inferior  numbers,  and  of  such  as  have  been  captured  in  wars. 
And,  too,  are  there  vast  degrees  of  difference  among  the  citizens  in 
the  community  of  our  fathers;  for  various  are  the  classes,  including 
slaves,  artisans,  warriors,  aristocrats,  and  royalists.  But,  O,  ye  gods 
of  our  forefathers,  on  this  great,  new  land,  no  human  foot  has  ever 
trod.  There  are  no  people  to  war  against  or  from  whom  to  obtain 
slaves.  O,  Athena,  the  destiny  of  our  Athonia  must  be  worked  out  by 
the  'Four  Hundred  of  Athens'  themselves,  without  the  aid  of  slaves 
and  assistance  of  the  common  people;  also,  without  the  aid  of  camel, 
elephant,  ass,  sheep,  cow,  oxen,  and  horse.  A  great  problem,  O,  Athena, 
confronts  us.  The  great,  first  house  and  temple  which  stands  completed 
arose  as  if  by  magic,  for  all  toiled  incessantly.  The  noble  maidens 
also  assisted  without  long  pauses  on  the  lighter  work.  By  the  bless 
ings  of  the  spirit  of  labor,  a  desire  to  labor,  O  Athena,  are  all  now 


No  Laws  385 

comfortably  roofed  and  protected  in  the  large,  high,  one-story  temple, 
which  also  has  two  hundred  dwelling  places.  But  one  large  dwelling- 
house  temple  maketh  not  a  city,  nor  sufficeth  for  the  future.  By  great 
labor  only  can  a  great,  noble,  future  Athonia  become  a  reality. 

"We  Ijave  dwelt  here  now  over  one  moon's  time  and  so  far,  O 
Athena,  without  rulers  or  laws.  Each  stepped  into  such  place  of  labor 
as  would  bring  the  most  skill  and  best  results.  But,  beholding  the 
regular  oi-der  of  the  seasons,  stars,  night  and  day,  we  know  that  all 
is  regulated  by  laws;  and  we  feel  that  human  affairs  also  cannot 
remain  without  laws,  for  soon  all  would  end  in  chaos.  Athonia  also 
will  have  to  be  governed  by  laws. 

"Its  citizens  must  come  to  an  agreed  understanding  among  them 
selves  as  to  what  course  of  action  is  to  be  adopted  as  proper,  agree 
able,  and  to  the  best  welfare  of  at  least  the  greater  number  of  the 
citizens.  O  Athena,  we  cannot  speak  of  a  king  or  a  queen  here,  for 
each  one  of  the  'Four  Hundred  of  Athens'  is  fit  to  hold  the  highest 
position  as  ruler  of  a  great  nation.  They  would  have  no  kings  or 
queens.  I  have  heard  one  of  our  most  profound  Grecian  philosophers, 
in  one  of  his  orations,  speak  of  the  classes  and  masses,  and  on  the 
clashing  of  the  classes. 

"But  here  we  have  no  classes,  for  all,  through  inheritance  and 
acquirement,  have  equal  excellencies  and  are  all  or  the  highest  and 
noblest  type  of  manhood  and  womanhood.  One  of  our  young  Grecian 
idealistic  philosophers  said,  while  at  Athens,  there  should  be  no 
classes.  All  should  possess  and  be  perfectly  equal;  for  man  to  man 
is  brother.  Most  all  the  other  philosophers  shook  their  heads  and  said : 
'As  a  song  it  would  sound  glorious;  but  it  could  not  earnestly  be  ad 
vocated  by  any  man  who  has  impartially  and  truly  analyzed  himself.' 
A  government  means  many  men.  They  also  said,  'Different  classes, 
including  warriors,  are  necessary  for  the  greatness,  prosperity,  strength, 
safety  and  renown  of  a  nation.'  One  of  the  older  philosophers  also 
said: 

Some  must  rule  and  some  obey, 
Or  chaos  holdeth  ruinous  sway. 

"But  I  admired  the  orator  who  spoke  on  perfect  equality.  He 
only  gave  in  a  very  enthusiastic  manner  a  few  leading  generalizing 
hints  how  to  secure  perfect  equality  of  possession  and  prominence  to 
each  individual  of  the  state.  I  at  that  time  pondered  deeply  and 
earnestly  on  the  idealists'  equalizing  plans.  My  thoughts  and  specu 
lations  ran  to  and  fro  until  they  lost  themselves  in  the  dark  laby- 
rinthian  chambers  of  my  brain.  The  efforts  in  trying  to  solve  the 
problem  made  my  head  dizzy  and  swim;  and  I  at  last  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  philosophers  and  bards  had  reason  when  they 
shook  their  heads.  Therefore,  O  Athena,  skillful,  wise,  blue-eyed  god- 


386  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

dess,  thou  who  hast  led  our  first  forefathers  out  of  the  wilderness, 
wouldst  we  humbly  invoke  thee,  O,  lend  wisdom  to  the  'Four  Hun 
dred'  in  the  making  of  righteous  laws  for  Athonia.  We  implore  thee,  O, 
may  its  laws  be  made  on  the  theory  that  man  to  man  is  brother.  This 
nation  is  to  begin  with  only  one  class  of  people — the  highest  class. 
None  are  obscure.  As  to  places,  let  there  be  no  high  places  nor  low 
places,  for  the  'Four  Hundred'  are  determined  to  preserve  strict 
equality  even  unto  their  descendants.  Jealously  will  they  forbid  titles 
of  rank  or  superiority.  Jealously  will  they  forbid  the  forming  of  any 
class.  Jealously  will  they  war  against  prerogatives  and  special  privi 
leges  ;  for  each  even  unto  his  descendants  shall  esteem  himself  equal 
to  all.  Our  fathers  taught  us  not  to  overvalue  much  gold,  for  there 
are  nobler  things  than  gold.  O  Zeus,  we  pray,  assist  us  to  subdue 
unrighteousness,  human  covetousness,  base,  sordid  longing,  craving 
merely  for  gold.  O.  gods  of  our  fathers,  let  not  unrighteousness, 
covetousness,  eagerness  for  gold,  arise  among  us.  Among  the  unjust 
and  unrighteous  gold  has  the  first  weight  of  power.  But  among  the 
'Four  Hundred'  it  is  thought  lightly  of.  Nobility  of  character  is 
valued  far  above  glittering  gold.  Bright  gold  is  called  by  some  peoples 
'the  tears  wept  by  the  sun.'  Truly  also  can  we  say  that  from  time 
immemorial  the  powers  of  gold  and  the  acquiring  of  gold  unright 
eously  has  caused  human  tears  to  flow  over  the  countenances  of  count 
less  millions.  Yes,  truly,  the  tears  wept  by  the  sun  have  caused  count 
less  millions  of  tears  to  flow  o'er  the  cheeks  of  avaricious  man.  The 
'Four  Hundred  of  Athonia,'  O  Athena,  is  a  very  high-minded,  very 
sensitive  class.  The  laws  to  fit  such  a  noble  people  must  be  built  on 
strict  equality  and  justice.  All  demand  to  be  and  remain  equal  in  all 
situations,  and  the  idea  of  equality  hand  down  to  their  descendants 
forever.  They  desire  that  none  of  their  descendants  shall  hold  servile 
positions  under  others.  Therefore,  O  wise  goddess,  the  finest  grains  of 
thought  will  be  required  to  evolve  laws  such  as  are  fit  for  this  high- 
minded,  highly  sensitive  'Four  Hundred  of  Athonia,'  who  dare  main 
tain  their  rights  and  are  ever  jealous  of  their  inviolability.  There 
fore,  O  Athena,  we  pray  to  thee,  that  true  philosophy  dwell  in  the 
minds  of  them  all,  especially  in  the  minds  of  such  as  are  to  take  the 
greatest  share  in  forming  the  laws  for  Athonia. 

"Philosophy,  true  philosophy,  our  Athenian  orators  have  often  said, 
comes  down  to  earth  from  heaven  and  raises  man  from  earth  up  to 
heaven.  O,  Zeus,  without  philosophy  man  would  be  nothing  more 
than  an  animal.  It  is  philosophy  only  that  distinguishes  and  sets 
man  far  above  and  over  animals.  Man  cometh  into  the  world  with 
ignorance,  but  philosophy  leadeth  him  higher  and  higher  towards  the 
realm  of  the  gods.  It  teacheth  the  love  of  truth,  beckons  him  to  search 
for  truth,  and  gradnally  banishes  baneful  darkness  and  ignorance.  To 


No  Laws  387 

know  one's  ignorance  is  the  foundation  and  beginning  of  true  philos 
ophy.  Philosophy  is  the  torch  that  lights  the  way  out  of  darkness  and 
ignorance  towards  the  clear  light  of  truth  and  wisdom.  Gods  and 
men  hate  falsehood  and  ignorance.  Truth,  O  Athena,  the  wisest  have 
taught  us,  make  strong,  brave,  wise,  temperate,  good  and  noble,  and 
bringeth  all  things  out  of  darkness  and  ignorance  into  the  clear  light 
of  day.  True  philosophy  teaches  us  that  the  mind  and  not  feelings, 
senses,  should  hold  sway ;  for  oft  our  inferior  senses  may  lead  us  into 
error,  lead  on  the  path  of  ignorance.  True  philosophy  aims  to  bring 
all  things  in  the  bright,  clear  light  of  the  noonday  sun.  Such,  it  is, 
Athena,  for  which  we  pray  to  thee,  O,  wise,  blue-eyed  goddess,  sprung 
full-armed  from  the  head  of  Zeus,  god  of  gods,  assisteth  ever  in  the 
love  and  search  of  truth. 

"O,  we  invoke  thy  aid,  assist  us  individually  to  be  ever  mindful 
that  our  minds  be  the  sovereign  over  our  senses;  for  at  times  the  in 
ferior  senses  seem  determined  to  usurp  the  sovereign  power  of  the 
mind.  To  allow  our  various  senses  to  hold  sway  as  sovereign  over 
the  mind  would  lead  to  chaos,  lead  to  wrong  paths,  lead  to  the  rule  of 
the  inferior  over  the  superior,  and  would  stay  and  subdue  the  noble,  pro 
gressive  impulses  of  man.  Similar,  also,  O  Athena,  have  our  Athenian 
orators  taught  us,  is  it  with  the  state,  where  the  inferior  rebel  and 
fight  to  usurp  the  ruling  power  of  the  government.  It  is  true  a  state 
ruled  by  the  inferior  must  ever  remain  below  the  standard  attainable 
when  ruled  by  the  superior. 

"We  beseech  thee,  O  Athena,  aid  us  each  individually  to  retain  the 
high  standard  which  has  been  achieved  by  four  generations  of  fore 
thought,  teaching  and  training.  Each  of  us  form  the  unit  of  the  city 
of  Athonia.  Philosophers  in  Athens  have  taught  us  that  as  is  the  in 
dividual  standing  of  the  citizens  of  a  people's  government,  just  in  the 
same  degree  is  the  standing  of  such  government.  A  nation  of  the 
people  must  at  times  have  special,  brave,  wise  and  noble  men.  Our 
Athenian  philosophers  have  taught  us  that  when  such  a  time  or  crisis 
occurs,  such  men  will  as  by  magic,  step  forth  and  loom  above  the  mul 
titude. 

"Well  do  we  also  remember  what  Diontes  said  upon  introducing 
Philostenes,  who  held  the  farewell  address  from  the  shore  at  Phalerum 
on  the  departure  of  our  once  great  ship  Aeolus,  namely,  'All  great 
events,  'tis  said,  will  great  men  find.' 

"O,  gods  of  our  fathers,  however  great  a  man  may  spring  up  among 
us,  on  whatever  crisis  or  occasion,  we  will  ever  heed  the  teachings  of 
our  Athenian  philosophers  and  forbid  anthropolatry  (man  worship). 
To  none  but  thee,  O,  Olympian  gods  of  our  fathers,  will  we  show  wor 
ship  and  deep  reverence.  Olympian  gods,  we  pray,  may  such  as  the 
citizens  of  Athonia  select  from  among  their  multitude  to  administer 


388  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

the  affairs  of  state,  prove  by  their  zeal  for  its  welfare  that  they  realize 
that  they  are  the  high  servants  of  the  people.  May  selfishness,  covet- 
ousness  and  sordid  self-interest  find  no  place  in  their  thoughts  and 
speculations;  and  may  the  only  desire  and  highest  ambition  of  all 
such  public  servants  be,  to  receive  the  appreciation  and  plaudits  of 
their  fellow  citizens  for  public  duty,  ably,  unselfishly,  patriotically, 
fearlessly,  impartially  and  conscientiously  performed.  Thus  may  a  state 
progress  and  prosper.  Also  may  we  pray,  may  the  citizens  of  our 
new  city,  state,  or  nation,  of  Athonia,  until  generations  without  end, 
be  imbued  with  the  principle  that  such  as  may  be  endowed  or  blessed 
with  special  gifts  of  strength  and  other  abilities  above  the  ordinary, 
that  it  is  the  sacred  duty  of  such  to  not  only  use  their  special  ability 
for  their  own  good,  but  for  the  general  public  good,  also  in  harmony 
with  the  noble  principle  that  man  to  man  is  brother. 

"In  speaking  of  a  state,  O  Zeus,  O  Athena,  one  is  again  and  again 
led  back  to  the  individual  citizen  who  constitutes  the  unit  of  the 
state,  and  a  multitude  constitutes  its  people,  the  state.  All  nature 
wishes  to  be  good  to  each  of  us  if  we  will  only  be  good  towards  our 
selves — each  being  his  own  friend  and  the  friend  of  others  in  thought 
and  deed.  Nature  is  the  true  friend  of  each  of  us.  When  our  body  is 
cut  or  harmed,  how  immediately  nature  steps  to  heal  and  help  us  to 
recover.  Also,  O  Zeus,  how  bounteous  are  the  manifold  blessings 
spread  around  us  on  all  sides  so  that  our  Athonia  may  grow  into  a  na 
tion  of  many  people.  O  Zeus,  we  pray  that  healthy,  beautiful  and  brave 
offsprings  be  given  us  in  great  numbers  so  that  Athonia  may  become  a 
nation  of  many  peoples.  'The  Four  Hundred  of  Athonia'  is  at  present 
like  one  great,  noble  family,  separated  in  couples. 

"Once  upon  a  time  a  great  ruler  of  a  great  nation  made  it  known 
that  families  of  a  large  number  of  children  were  pleasing  in  his  sight. 
But,  O  Zeus,  we  humbly  pray  as  to  children,  let  it  be  quality,  rather 
than  quantity;  so  that  the  high  standard  of  our  'Four  Hundred' 
achieved  by  four  generations  of  thoughtful  mating,  teaching  and  train 
ing  will  not  be  deteriorated. 

"Cast  upon  this  vast  unknown  land,  each  of  us  at  times,  may  need 
the  kind,  noble  assistance  of  others;  therefore,  O  Zeus,  we  pray  thee, 
assist  us  to  cultivate  active  assistance,  rather  than  fruitless,  helpless 
sympathy. 

"Those  of  our  'Four  Hundred'  who  have  been  sent  out  to  explore 
the  surrounding  country  say  they  have  found  no  trace  or  signs  of 
human  beings.  Cast  upon  this  great,  unknown  land,  we  are  its  only 
inhabitants  and  therefore  we  will  have  no  enemies  to  battle  or  contend 
against.  But,  O  Zeus,  one  of  our  most  profound  Athenian  philosophers 
maintained  in  one  of  his  lectures  on  'Our  Enemies' :  'Man  fear  thyself, 
and  guard  thyself  against  the  enemy  which  is  ever  a  part  of  thee.'  He 


No  Laws  389 

said  that  man's  greatest  foe  and  enemy  resides  within  himself,  is  al 
ways  present  and  accompanies  him  however  distant  he  may  travel  and 
is  ever  ready  to  inflict  harm  to  body  and  mind  even  unto  destruction. 
Man,  he  said,  is  of  many  parts,  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made.  He 
has  many  senses,  longings,  desires.  The  head,  the  mind,  is  intended 
to  be  the  ruling,  controlling  power  over  all  the  other  senses  and  de 
sires,  such  as  appetite,  love,  hatred,  envy,  unrighteousness,  covetous- 
ness  and  revenge.  The  mind  is,  therefore,  superior  and  above  the  other 
senses.  O  Zeus,  we  also  know  that  the  mind  cannot  wholly  ignore  the 
longing  and  desires  of  the  other  senses,  such  as  appetite  and  love;  for 
to  follow  their  promptings  thoughtfully,  is  necessary  for  the  welfare  of 
soul  and  body.  But,  O  ye  Olympian  gods,  when  the  inferior  senses 
such  as  desire,  revenge  and  base  longings  revolt  and  seem  determined 
to  usurp  the  power  of  the  intellect,  may  our  mind  assert  its  authority 
for  the  preservation  and  welfare  of  our  being.  O  Zeus,  we  again  pray 
assist  us  to  subdue  the  ever  present  enemy,  the  evil  spirit  that  is  within 
and  is  a  part  of  us.  So,  also,  Athene  we  pray,  may  the  evil  spirit  in 
the  body  politic  of  Athonia  never  try  to  usurp  the  controlling  powers 
of  the  state.  Ye  have,  O  gods  of  our  fathers,  endowed  the  'Four  Hun 
dred'  with  the  light  of  wisdom  so  that  no  false  prophets  and  magicians 
can  arise  and  make  merchandise  of  them.  May  the  gods  also  so  speak, 
we  pray,  to  our  coming  generation  without  end;  that  they  must  not 
allow  the  result  of  unrighteous  exploitations  of  one's  labor  for  the  bene 
fit  of  others ;  so  let  it  be  their  religion  as  it  is  ours. 

"The  bravest  of  heroes  have  our  Athenian  fathers  been  in  war. 
But  one  of  our  Athenian  warriors  said  upon  a  time: 

"  As  every  man  to  man  is  brother, 
When  shall  we  cease  to  war  each  other? 

"But  especially  here,  on  this  vast,  unknown  land,  where  we  are  the 
only  inhabitants,  where  all  are  equal,  we  pray,  O  Zeus,  may  peace  and 
concord  prevail  to  the  glory  of  Athonia.  May  our  forward  strides  in 
labor  and  our  strenuous  Grecian  games  preserve  our  full,  noble,  fearless 
courage  and  daring  and  strength  equal  to  that  which  is  claimed  can 
only  be  achieved  by  bloody  conflicts  of  war.  O  Zeus,  we  pray  to  thee, 
may  the  daughters  of  Mnemosyne,  Clio,  TJterpe,  Thalia,  Melpomene, 
Terpischore,  Erato,  Polyhymnia,  Urania,  Calliope  that  dwell  on  Mount 
Helicon,  Parnassus,  and  Pindus,  in  the  Grecian  land  of  our  noble  fathers, 
also  be  allowed  to  send  their  spirits  as  messengers  to  inspire  such  as 
are  poets  among  us;  to  sing  of  all  that  is  high  and  noble  and  exalting 
in  mankind,  thus  to  spur  us  ever  onward  and  upward  to  the  achieving 
of  noble  results  for  the  welfare  of  generations  yet  unborn. 

"But,  O,  we  pray,  forbid  them  to  sing  sweetly  of  false,  wrong  or 
alluring  lights  that  can  find  no  true  footing  among  the  conditions  of 
men,  for  such  songs  create  wrong  imaginings,  breed  discontent,  envy, 


390  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

hatred,  and  lead  to  riot,  destruction  and  bloodshed.  Upon  this  great, 
unknown  land  we  will  need  the  assistance  of  all  the  gods  and  graces 
truly.  We  pray  thee,  may  they  ever  remind  our  'Four  Hundred'  unto 
their  descendants  without  end,  also  that 

Justice  is  virtue  and  wisdom ; 
Injustice,  vice  and  ignorance. 

"Injustice  leads  to  and  creates  sedition,  hatred  and  contention 
among  men.  Justice  fosters  harmony,  concord  and  friendship.  We  pray 
with  your  favor  may  justice  prevail  until  the  endless  future,  so  that 
Athonia  can  grow  and  prosper  and  become  a  powerful  city,  state, 
nation,  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  gods  and  man.  Olympian  gods,  all,  may 
the  vapor  arising  from  the  heated  Grecian  wine  and  the  rare  incense 
now  ascending  to  the  high  Olympian  abode,  be  as  delicious  nectar  and 
sweet  ambrosia  unto  ye." 

Scriborites : 

Shortly  after  the  wine  in  the  small  bowl,  and  the  incense  in  the 
two  censers,  swinging  from  the  branches  of  the  walnut  tree,  and  the 
tripod,  standing  on  a  flat  stone,  had  ascended  as  vapor,  flame  and 
smoke,  Orato  took  the  censers  and  tripod  into  the  temple.  A  general 
discussion  between  all  of  the  "Four  Hundred"  ensued  in  regard  to  the 
advisability  of  forming  laws  for  Athonia.  The  consensus  of  opinion 
was  that  so  far  they  had  gotten  along  well  and  would  continue  to  get 
along  without  laws,  not  having  as  yet  the  necessity  of  any. 

The  sun  had  attained  to  its  zenith  and  as  the  day  had  been  set 
apart  for  holding  prayers  of  thanks  to  the  gods  and  general  recreation, 
it  was  agreed  to  set  apart  the  balance  of  the  day  for  holding  games  and 
dances.  As  the  day  is  hot,  all  went  to  their  apartments  in  the  temple 
and  donned  their  light  suits  and  athletic  tights,  which  they  had  taken 
along  on  the  ship  upon  leaving  Athens.  The  ladies'  athletic  suits  were 
of  a  light  blue  and  the  men's  were  of  a  dark  red  color.  On  a  large,  flat, 
open  green,  just  north  of  the  mahogany  trees,  the  men,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Marstenes,  and  the  ladies,  under  command  of  Rosania,  now 
wife  of  Emporiacles,  formed  into  line  and  marched  single  file  in  opposite 
directions,  on  returning  joining  couples.  To  the  stirring  music  of  the 
musicians,  composed  of  men  and  women  of  the  Four  Hundred,  all 
joined  in  the  wave-flowing  Neptune  dance,  singing  in  his  honor  with 
the  same  deep,  strong,  manly  and  beautifully  sweet,  womanly  voices  as 
at  various  landings  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  east  of  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules;  although  on  Neptune's  realm  none  can  ever  sail 
again,  for  the  great  ship  Aeolus  is  totally  wrecked,  and  has  only  its 
shattered  planks  and  sails  to  recall  its  one-time,  sea-defying  greatness. 

The  Neptune  dance,  even  when  danced  with  a  free  sort  of  abandon, 
is  one  of  the  most  graceful  of  our  Grecian  dances.  The  strong,  well 


No  Laws  391 

proportioned  men  and  stately,  neatly  rounded  forms  of  the  ladies,  clad 
in  tights,  almost  coinciding  with  nature  unadorned,  brought  the  true, 
full  beauty  of  graceful  movements  and  forms  unhidden  to  admiring 
eyes.  True  beauty  delights  the  eye  most  when  without  ornaments.  So, 
too,  as  I  am  allowed  to  say  the  truth,  do  our  Four  Hundred  appear 
handsomer,  more  graceful,  beautiful  and  noble  when  decked  with  the 
least  possible  raiment.  From  a  distance  they  appear  as  if  without 
raiment,  but  close  by,  the  short  and  low  cut  silk  tights  glisten  lustrously 
in  the  hot  sunshine. 

That  such,  with  their  large,  noble,  black,  brown  or  blue  eyes,  heavy 
wealth  of  brown,  black  or  blonde  hair,  perfect,  pearly  teeth  and  beauty 
of  stateliness,  form  and  grace — the  most  handsome,  brave  and  noble 
of  the  earth — should  be  cast  upon  these  shores  and  be  required  to  build 
up  a  city  by  their  own  bodily  strength,  without  the  assistance  of  slaves, 
even  without  the  assistance  of  beasts  of  burden,  or  draft  animals,  seems 
like  the  irony  of  Fate.  'Tis  true,  in  our  native  land,  beyond  the  never- 
again-to-be-crossed  ocean,  we  were  taught  and  accustomed  to  lead  a 
strenuous  life,  ever  ready  for  contests,  sports,  games  and  war.  But 
the  work  of  constructing  buildings  and  menial  labor  was  performed  by 
slaves  and  a  large  number  of  the  obscure,  and  were  not  engaged  in  by 
such  as  the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens. 

The  determination  in  all  situations  to  stand  forth  as  victors  alone 
may,  in  time,  lead  to  our  upbuilding  of  a  great  and  prosperous  Athonia. 
The  Neptune  dance  was  followed  by  a  men's  short  distance  race.  Each 
carried  a  woman  in  his  arms,  drawn  by  lot  for  the  race.  Each  man 
with  a  woman  in  his  arms  ran  to  a  certain  line  and  returned.  Sophon 
and  Quientes  returned  to  the  goal  at  the  same  time.  They  ran  a  second 
time  and  Quientes  turned  out  victor. 

Athonia  lies  on  a  slightly  elevated  plateau,  about  61  stadia  (seven 
miles)  west  of  the  sea,  inland. 

After  the  Neptune  dance,  it  was  agreed  to  conclude  the  day's  festivi 
ties  with  a  running  race  to  the  sea  and  return.  The  land  towards  the 
sea  is  covered  in  greater  part  with  forests  and  dense  undergrowth, 
therefore  the  distance  to  be  covered  by  the  racers  was  not  a  beaten 
path,  but  was  mostly  through  dense  forests  and  over  rough  running 
ground.  The  first  race  was  to  the  sea ;  the  second  race  a  return  from 
the  sea,  to  touch  the  large  stone  temple. 

Men  and  women  raced  separately.  Standing  in  a  long  line  the 
women  started  first.  Shortly  after,  the  men  also  started  on  the  race 
to  the  sea ;  each  racer  striving  for  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  touch 
the  waters  of  the  great  ocean,  seven  miles  distant.  In  the  glowing 
heat  of  this  climate  all  racers  were  glad  to  receive  the  shade  of  the 
large  forest  trees,  under  which  the  course  led  them.  It  was,  to  some  ex 
tent,  guesswork,  while  running  through  the  forests,  as  to  which  direc- 


392  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

tion  was  the  shortest  bee-line  to  the  sea.  Therefore  it  was  not  alto 
gether  a  matter  of  speed,  but  also  luck  and  judgment,  as  to  following 
the  most  direct  course  to  the  sea. 

Gracio,  of  the  men  racers,  was  the  first,  closely  followed  by  many 
others,  to  touch  and  stand  in  the  sea.  Lidio,  wife  of  Nononteus,  was 
the  first  to  touch  the  sea  in  the  woman's  race.  After  the  last  of  all  the 
racers  arrived  at  the  seashore,  the  men  and  women  separated  to  the 
north  and  south  along  the  shore,  disrobing  and  indulging  in  a  swimming 
contest.  Breakers  were  lashing  the  shore;  but  the  ladies  as  well  as 
the  men,  swam  far  out  in  the  heaving  billows.  Among  the  ladies,  Co- 
rina,  wife  of  Amondes,  won  the  prize  for  distant  swimming,  and  lola, 
wife  of  Kerdosocles,  won  the  prize  in  the  diving  contest.  In  the  men's 
swimming  contest,  Diagorax  won  the  long  distance  prize  and  Marstenes 
the  long  diving  prize.  After  donning  their  tights,  all  assembled  in  the 
shade  under  the  trees  along  the  seashore  for  a  short  rest,  after  which 
all  formed  in  line  along  the  beach,  and  on  a  given  signal  entered  upon 
the  seven  miles  returning  race  for  Athonia. 

Zenotes  touched  the  walls  of  the  temple  first,  and  won  the  men's 
return  race.  Minione,  wife  of  Sarphades,  was  the  first  of  the  ladies 
to  touch  the  temple,  and  won  the  ladies'  return  race  prize. 

All  gathered  at  the  festal  board,  in  the  shade  of  a  large  cluster  of 
mahogany  trees.  After  all  were  seated  around  the  long  banquet  boards, 
Orato,  with  incense  ascending  at  his  side,  which  stood  among  the  fruits 
on  the  banquet  boards,  prayed: 

"O  Zeus,  god  of  gods,  although  we  are  wafted  across  the  never- 
again-to-be-crossed  unknown  sea  to  this  new  land,  we  see  before  us 
with  gladdened  hearts  and  laughing  eyes  that  the  banquet  boards  are 
bending  with  the  weight  of  new,  toothsome,  luscious  fruits  and  nuts 
indigenous  to  this,  our  new  land.  Also  new  trophies  of  the  chase  have 
our  nimrods  placed  upon  the  banquet  boards.  Thy  great  goodness  to 
man  is  seen  on  every  side.  As  the  flat  world,  O  Zeus,  is  much  larger, 
much  greater  in  extent,  than  man  knoweth  of,  so  also  is  the  extent 
of  the  blessings  showered  upon  mankind.  O  Zeus,  Olympian  gods  all, 
also  Ceres,  Pomona,  Flora,  we  thank  you  for  the  bountiful  gifts  with 
which  our  banquet  boards  are  bending,  enhanced  by  the  new,  beautiful 
flowers,  also  indigenous  to  this,  our  new  land.  The  beautiful  feast  be 
fore  us  assures  us  that  we  have  not  been  cast  upon  a  desert  land,  but 
on  a  land  in  which  the  good  things  of  the  earth  appear  to  thrive  and 
grow  in  great  abundance.  O  Zeus,  Olympian  gods  all,  also  Ceres,  Po 
mona,  Flora:  in  great  humility  we  thank  you  for  the  life  sustaining 
blessings  bestowed  upon  us.  May,  O  ye  gods,  the  incense  arising  from 
our  tripod  be  as  sweet  as  perfume  unto  ye." 

The  luscious  fruit,  nuts  and  wild  game  indigenous  to  the  new  land 
was  partaken  of  with  great  relish.  Greek  wine  also,  with  other  Greek 


No  Laws  393 

fare,  of  which  a  large  quantity  was  still  preserved  in  the  temple,  also 
graced  the  banquet  boards. 

After  having  partaken  of  the  meal,  songs  accompanied  by  music,  fol 
lowed,  interspersed  with  words  of  laudation  for  the  victors  of  the  run 
ning  and  swimming  contests.  The  way  for  song  and  oration  was  opened 
by  singing  the  well-known  Grecian  song, 

When  Greek  meets  Greek  on  festal  day, 
The  watchword  is,  Fair  play !   Fair  play ! 

The  women  victors  were  crowned  with  white  cotton-blossom  wreaths, 
and  the  men  victors  with  mahogany  foliage  wreaths.  Many  happy  and 
fitting*  words  of  praise  in  honor  of  the  victors  were  expressed  by  both 
women  and  men,  many  leaning  toward  the  opinion  of  the  last  speaker, 
Arcondius,  who  spoke  as  follows:  "Fellow  Athenians,  although  in 
a  new,  unknown  land,  we  will  not  worship  new  gods,  but  the 
gods  of  our  fathers,  the  gods  of  Greece,  shall  remain  our  gods,  unto 
generations  without  end.  In  the  same  sacred  spirit  will  we  indulge 
in  Olympian  games  in  our  new  Athenian  land.  Our  fathers  instituted 
Olympian  games  to  bring  out  the  highest  and  best  in  men  and  women — 
the  highest  dexterity,  strength  and  courage.  'A  strong,  healthy  body, 
a  strong,  healthy  mind,'  is  the  desired  end  in  view  of  the  Olympian 
games.  We  were  schooled  in  the  most  strenuous  Spartan  training. 
The  Fates  have  seen  fit  to  waft  us  to  a  hot  climate;  but  we  will  hold 
our  strenuous  Spartan  games  and  contests  as  sacred.  The  Olympian 
games,  in  which  we  all  take  part,  reveal  to  each  of  us  whether  we  are 
as  strong  and  dexterous  as  we  ought  to  be,  whether  we  have  the  en 
durance  we  ought  to  have.  The  debates  in  which  we  also  take  part  also 
reveal  to  each  of  us  whether  we  are  as  well  informed  as  we  ought  to 
be.  Without  the  Olympian  contests,  in  which  we  all  take  part,  most 
of  us  would  consider  ourselves  better  runners,  better  archers,  better 
throwers  of  the  lance,  better  in  all  bodily  strength  and  endurance,  than 
we  really  are.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  one  is  a  swift  and  enduring 
runner,  a  good  swimmer,  or  has  a  mind  that  contains  much  wisdom, 
but  in  our  games  of  skill,  dexterity,  strength,  endurance,  and  in  our 
debates,  where  the  mind  is  set  at  play,  facts  as  to  comparative  strength 
of  body  and  mind  are  unfolded  in  their  true  light ;  and  facts,  we  know, 
are  stubborn  things. 

"He  that  does  nothing  can  easily  imagine  that  he  is  quite  a  good 
thrower  of  the  lance,  or  quite  a  good  runner,  or  skillful  in  some  things, 
also  can  one  easily  imagine  that  he  knows  quite  a  deal.  But  let  such 
Btep  out  of  his  seclusion  into  the  arena  of  bodily  skill  and  strength  or 
in  the  arena  of  public  debate,  his  rating  is  likely  to  fall  far  below  what 
he  had  imagined.  He  would  find  that  there  are  others. 

"Our  Olympian  games  dispel  all  false  ideas  we  may  hold  of  our- 


394  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

selves.  They  reveal,  to  a  certain  degree,  comparative  strength  of  body 
and  mind.  We  must  know  ourselves  in  all  ways.  Contests  bring  out 
the  truth.  Truth  barms  no  one.  Truth  is  the  light  which  profound 
philosophy  is  ever  seeking.  Error  leads  on  the  wrong  path.  Truth 
leads  on  the  path  of  righteousness,  wisdom  and  noble  human  welfare. 

"Our  Grecian  philosophy  teaches  us  to  search  for  the  weak,  false 
parts  of  body  and  mind,  so  as  to  be  able,  through  strenuous  determina 
tion,  to  supplant  the  weak  and  false  by  the  strong  and  true,  where  pos 
sible.  The  people  of  a  nation,  without  Olympian  games,  strenuous 
training,  and  contests,  would  dwindle  down  into  weaklings,  both  in  body 
and  in  mind ;  Into  cowards,  not  possessing  courage  and  strength  enough 
for  self  defense. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  what  I  have  said  we  all  well  know,  and  what 
those  before  me  have  said  or  those  that  may  speak  later  on  will  say, 
you  also  know ;  for  we  are  all  equal.  But  we  also  know  that  the  teach 
ings  of  our  Grecian  philosophers  cannot  be  rehearsed  too  often,  so  that 
the  truths,  which  they  have  discovered  may  be  indelibly  impressed  on 
our  minds  and  transmitted  to  our  coming  generations  beyond  number. 
Fellow  Athenians,  may  we,  the  Four  Hundred,  cast  upon  this  distant 
land,  in  banquet  assembled,  arise  and  drain  our  drinking  horns  of  Gre 
cian  wine,  in  honor  of  Olympic  games,  which  we  here,  on  this  occasion, 
promise  to  observe  as  a  valuable  heritage  of  our  fathers,  who  dwell 
beyond  the  sea,  for  the  greatness,  strength  and  glory  of  our  city  of 
Athonia  to  time  without  end." 

Loud  and  clear  rang  the  cheers,  re-echoing  from  against  the  temple 
into  the  surrounding  forests.  The  sun  has  descended  down  the  west 
end  of  the  world.  All  have  entered  their  temple  homes  to  rest  from 
the  festal  day's  exertions. 

Many  days  of  toil  will  pass  before  another  day  is  set  apart  for 
worship,  sports  and  games.  Until  such  time,  no  events  will  I  record. 
Since  passing  out  of  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  into  the  great,  unknown 
sea,  my  duty  as  scribe  ceased  also.  I  only  record  events  from  a  force 
of  habit.  But  in  this  hot  climate  my  inclination  to  record  events  will 
grow  less  and  less.  I  shall  in  the  future  only  record  events  as  the 
spirit  moves  me,  without  effort,  otherwise  not.  I  also,  like  the  rest  of 
our  Four  Hundred,  must  rest  for  the  labor  that  awaits  us  all.  It  has 
been  agreed  by  all  that  laws  shall  not  be  known  in  Athonia. 

Years  and  moons  have  passed  since  I  inscribed  events  on  a  record 
scroll.  Labor  in  this  hot  climate  lessens  the  inclination  for  recording 
events.  Besides  my  hands  from  handling  stones  and  other  work  act 
awkwardly  in  the  guiding  of  the  quill  o'er  the  record  scroll  parchment. 

Rostocious  has  bowed  a  large  eagle  and  has  presented  its  large  quills 
to  me,  one  of  which  I  will  now  use  to  inscribe  events  of  this  day  on  a 


No  Laws  395 

record  scroll.  This  day  has,  by  general  desire,  been  set  apart  for  wor 
ship,  games  and  contests. 

Since  I  inscribed  my  last  record  scroll,  many  festal  days  have  come 
and  gone  and  many  events  have  taken  place.  I  shall  hardly  refer  to 
them;  but  will  mainly  record  this  day's  events.  Since  my  last  records 
were  written  Athonia  has  grown  into  a  city  of  many  houses.  Each 
couple  of  our  Four  Hundred  has  a  large  lot  and  a  home  upon  it.  Each 
house  is  built  like  the  next,  excepting  the  doors  and  openings  in  the 
front  side  are  different  from  each  other,  so  as  to  distinguish  them.  The 
houses  are  all  strong,  one-story  buildings.  By  general  agreement 
each  house  was  built  by  twenty-five  men.  There  being  200  men,  eight 
houses  were  erected  during  the  same  period  of  time.  It  was  decided  by 
lot  which  house  should  be  erected  first  and  so  on  in  succession. 

Besides  a  large,  endless  lot  and  house  for  each  member,  an  endless 
plat  of  land  adjoining  the  lots  belongs  to  the  whole  Athonian  com 
munity.  Each  member  is  supposed  to  do  his  full  share  in  tilling  the 
soil  of  the  large  common.  Each  shareholder  is  entitled  to  an  equal  share 
of  the  crops  from  land,  tree  and  bush.  The  results  of  labor  were  equally 
distributed  to  all,  although  some,  through  being  more  diligent,  perse 
vering,  and  more  earnest,  eager  and  thoughtful  in  their  toiling  had 
created  much  more  than  others. 

So  far  laws  are  unknown  in  Athonia.  i^  t  as  years  and  moons  pass 
on  the  clamoring  for  laws — standard  agreements  of  the  community  as 
to  what  action  and  conditions  had  to  be  recognized  by  all  as  proper, 
feasible  and  just  for  the  general  welfare  of  Athonia  is  growing  louder 
and  louder. 

In  the  beginning,  and  even  for  many  moons  and  years,  the  most  dili 
gent  and  thoughtful  workers  did  not  openly  find  fault  with  those  who 
invented  many  different  excuses  in  order  to  be  able  to  shirk  from  their 
full  share  of  toil.  But  as  time  passed  on  the  shirkers  grew  in  number 
and  the  earnest,  diligent  toilers  grew  less,  until  the  most  diligent  and 
honorable  began  to  protest  against  growing  conditions  in  no  uncertain 
tone.  So  that  it  has  been  agreed  that  upon  this  festal  day  the  forming 
of  laws  for  Athonia  shall  be  discussed  in  full  by  the  whole  community. 
On  starting  this  record  scroll  I  did  not  intend  to  record  past  Athonian 
events  but  I  did  nevertheless  in  a  condensed  way.  But  if  I  should 
record  the  dissatisfaction  and  strife  which  many  times  nearly  ended  in 
bloodshed  on  account  of  the  shirking  by  many  of  their  duties,  yet  eager 
to  share  the  results  of  labor  equally  with  the  diligent,  it  would  cover 
several  record  scrolls,  and  could  not  be  written  within  the  time  of  the 
rising  and  setting  of  the  sun. 

This  is  a  beautiful  day.  Early  in  the  morning,  as  Aurora  illumined 
the  east,  It  was  seen  that  the  day  would  be  beautiful,  and  it  was 
quickly  agreed  to  set  this  day  apart  as  the  festal  day. 


396  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

All  the  Athenians  are  now  gathered  on  the  open  space  near  the 
large  temple,  surrounded  by  mahogany  and  other  trees.  In  several  places 
of  the  open  space  are  large,  flat  stones,  slightly  elevated  above  the 
ground.  Near  the  center  of  the  grounds,  under  a  large  mahogany  tree, 
Orato  has  taken  his  stand  on  a  slightly  elevated,  flat  rock. 

With  incense  arising  from  the  censer,  swinging  from  the  tree,  Orato 
said: 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  Fellow  Athenians,  you  have  set  this  day  apart 
as  a  festal  day  for  the  worship  of  our  Olympian  gods  and  also  for  the 
holding  of  games,  sports,  contests  and  dances.  Auritonous  has  com 
posed  a  short  invocation  to  Zeus  for  this  occasion  and  Orientee, 
wife  of  Marstenes,  has  discovered  a  well-known  Grecian  tune  for 
same." 

Orato  proceeded:  "Let  the  harp,  flute,  lyre,  horn,  bugles,  trumpets, 
drums  and  cymbals  blend  in  harmony  with  our  voices." 

With  music  accompaniment  all  stood  and  sang : 

INVOCATION  TO  ZEUS 

O,  Zeus,  God  of  Gods,  we  pray, 
Aid  us  upon  this  festal  day, 
To  act  as  worthy  sons  and  daughters 
Of  Grecians,  far  across  the  waters, 
To  think  in  true  heroic  mould 
Like  Grecians,  noble,  fearless,  bold, 
Which  thus  a  heritage  may  be 
To  all  Athenians,  noble,  free, 
To  times  enduring,  circling  flow. 
Thus  will  Athonia's  progress  grow, 
Into  a  nation  strong  and  grand, 
An  offshoot  of  our  Grecian  land. 
With  incense  rising,  thus  we  pray, 
On  this  Athenian  festal  day. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  many  that  in  time  the  hot  climate  of  our  new 
land  would  lessen  our  energies  in  all  directions  of  thought  and  labor. 
But  the  strong,  old-time  vigor  and  beauty  of  melodiousness  with  which 
the  invocation  re-echoed  from  the  forest,  does  not  yet  agree  with  such 
fears.  After  the  sound  of  the  grand  chorus  died  away,  Orato  prayed: 

"Olympian  gods  of  our  fathers,  on  this  festal  day,  we  pray  thee, 
give  ear  to  our  invocations.  Cast  upon  these  distant  shores,  we  have 
built  a  new  city  and  named  it  in  honor  of  Athene,  the  wise  goddess  that 
always  was  on  the  side  of  our  heroic  forefathers. 

"From  the  beginning  to  this  day,  Athonia  has,  we  can  say,  been 
without  laws.  Idleness,  weakness,  lack  of  desire  for  labor,  endurance, 
perseverance,  strength,  fitness,  wisdom  and  many  other  things  has  re 
sulted  in  a  great  inequality  in  quantity  and  quality  of  labor  performed 
by  the  individual  members  composing  the  city  of  Athonia.  So  far,  O 


No  Laws  397 

Zeus,  in  a  more  than  brotherly  spirit  all  have  had  meted  out  to  them 
an  equal  share  of  the  labor  of  all.  Equality  of  the  results  of  labor 
by  the  superior  strength,  by  the  superior  desire  to  labor,  of  superior 
fitness  to  labor,  of  superior  wisdom  to  labor,  has  been  shared  by  all 
alike;  until,  O  Zeus,  in  order  to  avoid  bloodshed,  this  day  has  been  set 
apart  to  decide  whether  in  the  future  Athonia  shall  adopt  laws  which 
shall  be  observed  by  all. 

"Omnipotent  Zeus,  we  humbly  invoke  your  aid  to  assist  us  in  our 
conference  this  day  to  agree  on  laws  that  will  be  based  on  true  right 
eousness  for  the  good  of  all  the  citizens  of  Athonia. 

Athene,  blue-eyed  goddess,  thou  it  was  who  brought  our  first  fore 
fathers  out  of  the  woods,  and  taught  them  to  live  in  cities,  O,  we  also 
invoke  thy  aid,  in  the  forming  of  laws  for  the  welfare,  stability  and 
glory  of  Athonia. 

"O  Zeus,  we  have  been  cast  upon  a  hot  but  very  fruitful  land.  In 
the  land  of  our  fathers,  beyond  the  great,  unknown  ocean,  thanks  with 
great  rejoicing  are  given  to  Ceres  once  a  year.  But  here,  O  Zeus,  we 
can  hold  a  feast  of  thanks  and  rejoicing  twice  a  year,  for  the  land,  and 
crops,  bear  full  twice  a  year,  in  prolific  abundance. 

"The  white,  fleecy  cotton  for  spinning  and  weaving  into  raiment 
also  grows  in  profusion.  Therefore, 

"O  Zeus,  we  acknowledge,  if  it  goeth  not  well  with  us,  it 
is  not  the  fault  of  the  land  upon  which  the  Fates  have  seen  fit  to 
cast  us,  but  will  be  because  of  the  lack  of  unity,  concord  and  righteous 
ness  that  resides  in  Athonia. 

"O  Zeus,  we  also  thank  Ceres,  Pomona,  and  Flora,  for  the  bounteous 
gifts  of  grains,  fruits  and  flowers.  O,  fair  goddess,  special  days,  twice 
a  year,  will  soon  be  set  aside  for  your  worship,  with  great  rejoicing, 
long  pageants,  followed  by  games,  song  and  dance.  Not  only,  O  Zeus, 
is  our  land  prolific  in  its  products  of  the  soil  but  also  is  it  prolific  in 
bringing  forth  the  most  beautiful  flowers  of  mankind,  for  in  an  unex 
pected  short  time  after  we  Four  Hundred  landed  on  these  shores  from 
our  stranded  ship  Aeolus,  each  of  our  wives  presented  us  with  a  healthy 
offspring.  O  Zeus,  many  thanks  have  ascended  from  us  fathers  and 
mothers  to  Hygeia,  the  Goddess  of  Health,  for  the  perfect,  strong,  beau 
tiful  babes  vouchsafed  unto  us.  To  behold  a  babe's  first  smiling  laugh 
is  a  sight  the  most  delightful  to  feeling  man.  On  beholding  a  child's 
smiling  laugh,  O  Zeus,  O  fair  Goddess  Hygeia,  the  strongest  of  men 
have  striven  to  hold  back  tears  of  innermost  joy;  and  to  the  mother 
the  joy  of  joys.  The  smiling  laugh  of  a  child  must  be,  it  seems,  even  a 
delight  unto  the  sight  of  ye  gods,  O  Zeus,  indicating  that  it  feels  well 
and  rejoices  that  it  is  in  the  world  over  which  ye  hold  sway. 

"The  boy  babies  far  outnumber  the  girls  but,  O  Zeus,  in  time,  O 
fair  Goddess  Hygeia,  may  they  be  more  evenly  created.  O  Zeus,  fair 


398  Athonia;  or.  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Goddess  Hygeia,  we  all  pray  may  they  all  grow  up  to  be  strong,  stately, 
handsome,  fearless,  noble  men  and  women,  so  as  to  be  worthy  descend 
ants  of  their  heroic  Grecian  ancestors. 

"The  multitude  of  Athenians  are  waiting  to  discuss,  O  Zeus,  the 
question  of  righteousness  between  man  and  man,  awaiting  to  decide 
whether  Athonia  shall  remain  without  laws  or  whether  laws  shall  be 
enacted  for  its  future  guidance  and  welfare.  Again,  we  pray,  lend  wis 
dom,  O  Athene,  unto  each  Athenian  to  decide  and  counsel  justly  for 
the  glory  of  Athonia.  May  the  incense  arising  be  acceptable  unto  ye, 
O  gods." 

After  the  incense  had  all  ascended,  the  whole  chorus,  accompanied 
by  musicians,  sang  the  well-known  Grecian  hymn  (slightly  changed), 
the  first  verse  beginning: — 

O,  Gods  of  Greece;  O,  Gods  of  Greece, 
Our  thanks  and  prayers  shall  never  cease, 
For  blessings  which  to  us  were  given 
On  this  new  land  whence  we  were  driven. 

After  the  sounds  of  the  long,  melodious  song  lost  itself  in  the  ma 
hogany  forest,  Marstenes,  standing  on  a  flat  boulder,  said:  "Fellow 
Athenians,  we  know  that  a  part  of  this  festal  day  has  been  set  apart 
to  discuss  questions  which  we  in  the  beginning  thought  would,  never 
need  to  be  discussed  or  receive  attention,  namely :  whether  Athonia 
can  get  along  without  laws.  We  all,  in  the  beginning,  thought  that  we 
could  get  along  without  laws;  for  we  all  know  what  is  right  and 
wrong,  and  all  are  noble.  We  all  thought  that  we,  the  Four  Hundred, 
the  masterpieces  of  the  creator,  as  one  of  the  princes  said,  at  one  of 
our  landings  in  the  Mediterranean,  did  not  require  laws  to  guide  or 
keep  us  on  the  road  of  honor  and  righteousness  in  our  community  af 
fairs.  But  moons  and  years  have  past,  and  we  are  confronted  by  a 
condition.  Fellow  Athenians,  the  time  is  now  ripe  for  each  and  every 
one  to  fully  express  his  views  in  regard  to  the  highly  important  mat 
ter." 

Ronia,  wife  of  Indomides,  spoke  up  and  said:  "Express  his  view? 
Are  we,  the  ladies,  not  to  express  our  views  also?" 

Marstenes  replied:     "I  cannot  say." 

After  a  short  pause  and  consultation  with  those  men  near  him  he 
said:  "Men  of  Athonia,  it  may  be  well  to  decide  whether  the  women 
shall  have  the  same  rights  as  the  men  to  express  their  views  on  the 
important  questions  of  the  day."  Many  spoke  up  and  said,  "Yes,  let's 
decide  it." 

Marstenes  said:  "Fellowmen  of  Athenian,  all  who  desire  that  the 
ladies  shall  be  allowed  to  take  part  in  the  discussions  will  stand  on 
the  west  side  of  that  large  boulder,  and  those  who  do  not  desire  that 


No  Laws  399 

the  ladies  take  part  in  the  discussion,  remain  standing  where  they 
are." 

Marstenes  announced :  "The  majority  of  us  Athenians  are  standing 
on  the  west  side  of  the  stone.  Now,  may  I  ask  all  of  us  men  of 
Athonia  what  our  decision  is?" 

All  answered,  as  if  with  one  voice:  "Let  the  ladies  express  their 
opinions  also." 

Marstenes  continued :  "I  have  said  all  I  intend  to  say  at  this  time. 
I  shall  try  to  be  a  good  listener,  so  let  him  that  will,  speak." 

It  was  suggested  by  many  that  all  who  wished  to  give  their  views 
should  speak  from  the  flat  boulder  from  which  Marstenes  had  spoken. 

Diagorax  stepped  upon  the  stone  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians, 
women  and  men,  Morphonius,  he  who  so  often  has  entertained  us 
with  his  dream  stories,  says  that  a  few  nights  ago  he  had  a  vivid 
dream  of  a  wonderfully  grand  nation  that  existed  in  some  far-off  cor 
ner  of  the  world's  wide  plain,  and  that  some  part  of  the  dream  he 
believes  contains  conditions  that  may  be  germane  to  the  questions  that 
may  come  up  for  our  consideration  and  discussion  this  day.  Moreover, 
his  dream  stories  may  put  us  all  in  a  good  humor,  and  in  such  a  mood 
more  tolerance  and  fairness  will  prevail  during  our  discussion  of  the 
earnest  questions  that  are  to  be  decided  upon  this  day." 


CHAPTER  XXII 


MORPHONIUS'S  DREAM 

The  call,  "Morphonius!  Morphonius!  Morphonius  !"  was  answered 
by  our  dreamer's  presence  on  the  flat,  stone  rostrum. 

He  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  there  are  dreams  and  dreams.  Many 
dreams  are  so  faint  that  upon  awakening,  we  do  not  recall  them.  But 
the  dream  which  I  am  to  relate  to  you  still  remains  fully  in  my  mind 
and  the  conditions  and  scenes  in  the  mysterious  distance  still  linger, 
strikingly,  vividly,  in  my  mind's  eye;  all  sounds  and  all  sights  are  still 
clear  to  my  eyes,  ears,  and  mind.  To  be  concise,  I  shall,  in  a  laconic 
manner,  only  relate  the  most  striking  and  wonderful  parts  of  my  dream. 
I  dreamt  I  saw  in  some  far-off,  distant,  mysterious  corner  of  the  world 
a  wonderful  nation,  of  a  wonderful  people.  In  person,  they  appeared 
the  same  as  we  do,  excepting  the  raiment  worn  by  man  and  women 
were  somewhat  different  from  ours. 

They  were  a  lively  people,  running  to  and  fro,  all  in  great  haste  it 
seemed. 

"In  my  dream,  with  wide  open  eyes,  I  saw  long  rows  of  houses, 
moving  swiftly  to  and  fro,  from  city  to  city,  throughout  the  whole  na 
tion.  Looking  closer,  I  saw  people  going  in  and  out  of  the  houses  at 
all  places  where  the  houses  seemed  to  stand  still  for  just  a  short  time. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  houses  moved  on  wheels.  On  closer  observation,  I 
discovered  that  the  people  moved,  traveled  and  rode  in  the  houses 
with  great,  unbelievable  speed,  from  one  city  to  another.  Each  long 
row  of  houses  were  drawn  by  a  huge  black  animal,  emitting  dark  fumes 
at  times,  and  shrieking  as  it  neared  a  city.  I  saw  cities  of  many 
people  in  many  parts  of  the  great  nation,  the  largest  lying,  it  seemed, 
near  the  ocean  and  great  inland  waters  and  streams.  Many  of  the 
houses  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  attempting  to  pierce  the  high 
est  clouds.  Great  were  the  houses  of  the  whole  land.  But  especially 
great  and  more  than  wonderful  were  the  houses  and  temples  of  the 
large  cities.  Some  of  the  domes  and  spires  seemed  to  stand  forth  as  an 
obstruction  to  the  moon's  passing,  if  ever  she  should  happen  to  travel 
that  way  in  the  blue  vault  above.  The  houses  had  many  openings  which 
seemed  to  glitter  like  so  many  eyes.  Next,  swift  moving  objects  on  its 
rivers  and  seas  claimed  my  attention.  They  appeared  like  huge  sea 
monsters,  dashing  over  the  waters  in  all  directions.  Upon  coming  plain- 

400 


Morphonius's  Dream  401 

er  into  view,  I  saw  them  to  be  ships,  dashing  over  the  waters  of  oceans, 
seas  and  rivers  in  all  directions  like  huge  water  bugs  of  various  sizes, 
regardless  of  wind,  storms  or  tide. 

"On  a  landing  at  the  seashore  I  observed  a  large  crowd  of  people 
looking  over  toward  the  sea.  I  could  not  see  what  they  were  looking 
at,  for  the  blue  ocean  seemed  clear  of  all  objects.  But  presently  in  view 
of  the  large  crowd  of  people  on  the  wharf,  a  large,  dark  object  arose 
out  of  and  above  the  surface  of  the  sea  amidst  the  shouts  of  the  popu 
lace  on  the  wharf.  The  object  looked  like  a  monster  tortoise,  much 
larger  than  any  of  our  houses.  While  I  was  looking  the  large  object 
grew  less  and  disappeared  again  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  After 
a  short  time  it  arose  again  to  view,  far  to  the  right  from  its  first  rising 
place.  It  now  dashed  over  the  sea  towards  the  wharf,  in  close  view  to 
the  multitude  of  spectators.  It  again  sank  under  the  sea ;  and  after  a 
lapse  of  time,  appeared  on  the  surface  again  far  out  on  the  sea.  It 
dashed  back  towards  the  wharf  again,  and  again  sank  below  the  water, 
and  remained  down  a  long  time;  and  then  arose  again  to  the  surface 
of  the  sea  very  close  to  the  wharf.  Presently  a  man  stepped  forth  from 
an  opening  and  stood  in  plain  view,  bowing  in  all  directions  to  the  mul 
titude  of  spectators  who  shouted  and  cheered,  waving  bright  flags,  in 
the  corner  blue  of  which  seemed  to  be  many  white  stars.  It  seemed 
that  this  man  may  have  been  the  ruler  of  the  wonderful  nation,  for  his 
reception  by  the  vast  multitude  was  far  above  and  beyond  a  simple 
ovation. 

"The  movements  of  the  object  above  and  under  the  sea,  taught  me 
that  it  was  a  ship  that  could  move  and  remain  above  or  under  water 
with  equal  speed.  Their  ships  had  no  sails,  and  looked  at  my  distance 
like  huge  monster-speeding  tortoises  or  whales.  Only  their  great  size 
made  one  suspicious  that  they  could  not  be  such.  Not  only  did  my  eyes 
see  long  trains  of  speeding  houses,  but  also  heavy,  horseless  chariots  of 
many  kinds  speeding  in  all  directions  from  one  city  to  another.  Espe 
cially  did  they  appear  in  great  numbers  on  the  streets  of  cities.  They 
were  guided  by  men,  women,  also  children,  and  moved  at  a  rapid  mo 
tion  on  their  own  account.  Small,  horseless  chariots,  guided  by  chil 
dren,  also  in  large  numbers,  darted  about  with  apparently  the  same 
speed  as  those  guided  by  men. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  there  is  one  thing  that  we  all  will  unanimously 
agree  in,  namely:  that  I  am  relating  a  dream.  I  also  dreamt  that  by 
their  actions  and  looks,  conversations  held,  and  questions  asked  and 
answered,  which  were  all  clear  to  my  eyes  and  ears,  that  the  people 
could  talk  through  the  walls  of  their  houses  to  others  who  were  simi 
larly  situated,  regardless  of  distances.  Also  did  they  talk  from  the 
street  corners,  over  seas  and  mountains,  to  persons  living  in  distant 
cities. 


402  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"A  crowd  of  people  in  a  park  drew  my  attention,  as  they  all  sat 
facing  a  small  box,  the  sweetest  human  voices  resounded  in  song  from 
out  the  box.  Also  did  great  orations  proceed  from  that  box,  all  of 
which  were  greatly  applauded  by  the  people.  I  heard  the  man  who 
stood  by  the  small  box  announce  to  the  audience:  'We  will  now  have 
the  pleasure  of  listening  to  an  oration,  which  at  the  time  it  was  held, 
took  the  multitude  by  storm.  You  will  hear  that  the  orator  is  no  more 
among  the  living,  but  has  left  his  masterful  orations  for  posterity  to 
listen  to.'  The  words  spoken  by  the  late  orator  came  from  the  small 
box,  clear  and  loud.  I  took  great  pains  in  trying  to  listen  to  the  ora 
tion  so  as  to  find  out  whether  the  orations  held  by  these  wonderful 
people  equaled  those  of  our  Grecian  orators,  bards  and  philosophers. 
The  oration  sounded  very  masterful;  but  on  account  of  the  very  fre 
quent  interruption  by  the  audience's  applause  I  only  remember  of 
hearing  something  about  despising  a  crown  of  gold,  but  desiring  a 
crown  of  silver  rather.  I  felt  somewhat  annoyed  because  the  frequent 
applause  interrupted  the  oration's  reaching  my  ears. 

"I  soon  noticed  by  their  actions  that  the  wonderful  people  of  that 
wonderful  nation  could  talk  with  each  other  over  land,  seas  and 
mountains,  from  one  end  of  the  nation  to  the  other. 

"Next,  a  large  number  of  soldiers,  marching,  caught  my  eyes.  Upon 
stopping,  they  aimed  at  targets,  and  fire,  lightning  and  thunder  spouted 
forth.  I  noticed  that  many  of  the  people  in  the  cities  carried  fire, 
lightning  and  thunder  on  their  persons  concealed  in  small  tubes. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  I  will  not  tire  your  patience  much  longer." 

"Go  on.    Keep  on,"  cried  the  Athenians. 

"I  shall  hasten  to  come  to  the  end  of  that  dream.  So  far  I  had  my 
eyes  upon  the  things  on  land  and  sea;  but  with  my  eyes  wide  open, 
looking  steadily  at  the  vision  before  me,  in  the  vast  distance  I  saw 
people  getting  into  a  kind  of  seat  with  wing-like  appendages,  in  swift 
motion,  and  arise  from  the  ground  and  fly  in  all  directions,  high  in  the 
air,  regardless  of  storm  or  wind.  Not  only  men  but  women  and  small 
children  also  flew  in  the  same  manner  with  the  speed  and  ease  of  an 
eagle,  singly,  and  in  flocks,  high  in  the  air  from  city  to  city.  Many  of  the 
air  ships  were  what  one  could  call  'Three  in  one.'  They  could  fly  high  or 
low  in  every  direction,  could  alight  on  the  sea  and  arise  again  like  a  sea 
gull  and  move  over  the  water  in  every  direction;  and  when  alighting 
on  the  land  could  move  swiftly  on  wheels,  like  a  chariot. 

"Keeping  my  eyes  toward  the  sky,  but  to  a  further  distance,  I  saw 
two  long,  dark  columns  of  air-ships  rapidly  approaching  each  other. 
Each  of  the  large  number  of  ships  was,  as  the  glistening  weapons  indi 
cated,  manned  by  a  number  of  warriors.  Spears  projected  from  all 
sides  of  each  air  warship.  The  distance  between  the  two  columns  grew 
swiftly  less  and  less,  until  within  a  short  distance  from  each  other, 


Morfihonius's  Dream  403 

clouds  of  tremendous  fire  and  lightning,  followed  by  dreadful  rolling 
thunder,  flew  across  from  column  to  column.  Many  air-ships  fell  slowly 
from  their  great  height  to  the  ground.  The  air  warships  closed  in 
upon  each  other  in  a  seemingly  hand-to-hand  fight.  Air  warships  fell 
in  increasing  numbers  to  the  ground,  not  like  a  stone  but,  to  my  won 
der,  somewhat  like  a  leaf.  For  quite  a  long  time  the  combat  between 
the  warriors  of  the  opposing  columns  raged  fearfully.  Lightning  flashes 
and  thunder  raged  amidst  the  combatants.  At  last  the  air-ships  belong 
ing  to  the  invading  nation,  it  seemed,  flew  with  great  speed  over  the 
boundary  line  back  into  their  own  country.  They  had  nearly  been 
annihilated.  The  victorious  column,  after  flying  into  military  order 
again,  slowly  flew  down  on  the  ground.  Many  lives  must  have  been 
lost  on  both  sides,  for  fierce  was  the  battle  in  the  clouds.  A  dark,  im 
penetrable  fog  set  over  the  scene  before  me.  After  a  time  the  fog 
vanished.  To  my  horror  and  surprise  many  of  the  magnificent  man 
sions  of  the  rich  and  imposing  temples  of  the  great  city  which  had 
claimed  my  particular  attention  now  lay  strewn  in  ruins,  from  which 
smoke  arose  at  various  places.  I  thought  that  the  sudden  destruction 
was  the  work  of  an  earthquake.  It  was  a  terrible,  sad  transformation 
scene  indeed. 

"In  a  large,  open  square  of  the  great  city  a  speaker  was  address 
ing  an  excited  crowd  of  citizens.  I  paid  particular  attention,  in  my 
dream,  to  catch  every  word  that  he  said.  He  addressed  the  crowd  in 
a  loud,  earnest,  excited  manner,  as  follows: 

"  'Fellow  citizens  of  our  greatest  and  freest  and  grandest  of  all 
nations.  This  is  not  a  time  for  many  words.  We  all  know  what  has 
taken  place  and  know  who  caused  the  terrible  destruction  of  many  of 
our  cities'  most  palatial  homes  and  temples,  including  the  temple  of 
justice.  The  question  is,  what  can  be  done  to  save  our  city  and  citi 
zens  from  being  destroyed  by  Arkickchists.  They  have  killed  many 
more  people  than  they  profess  they  care  to  kill.  But  these  outlaws  care 
not  for  human  lives,  excepting  their  own  worthless  lives.  Since  time 
began,  there  always  were  such  people  mixed  in  society.  But  they  did 
not  have  the  opportunity  of  creating  such  terrible  widespread  havoc,  as 
made  possible  and  easy  by  newly  discovered  explosives  and  flying  air 
ships.  Dark  nights,  as  well  as  dense  fogs,  will  come  again  and  again. 
Thus  will  the  Arkickchists  find  opportunities  without  end  for  destroy 
ing  mansions,  temples,  yes,  whole  cities,  including  the  lives  of  many 
citizens.  To  be  short,  fellow  citizens,  what  means  can  we  propose  to 
save  our  homes,  the  lives  of  our  families,  wives  and  children,  our  cities, 
our  nation,  from  the  inhuman  designs  of  Arkickchists?  I  would  ask 
Judge  Smitho  to  express  his  opinion  in  regard  to  the  situation.' 

"The  assembled  citizens  shouted,  'Smitho!  Smitho!'  The  Judge  as 
cended  the  stand,  alongside  the  first  speaker,  and  said:  'Fellow  citi- 


404  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

zens,  a  calamity  has  been  cast  over  the  homes  of  many  of  our  citizens 
and  also  utterly  destroyed  several  of  our  most  magnificent  temples. 
Many  men,  women  and  children  have  been  killed  and  many  injured. 
But  what  guarantee  have  we  that  such  terrible  outrages  will  not  be 
repeated  endlessly?  It  has  been  predicted  by  one  of  our  noted  scientists 
that  in  time  our  new  inventions  and  discoveries  will  reach  such  a  point 
that  it  will  be  dangerous  to  live.  It  almost  seems  we  have  arrived  at 
such  a  period  already.  It  has  been  put  on  record  by  secret  officers  of 
our  city  that  at  an  Arkickchistic  meeting  held  while  the  first  experi 
ments  with  the  flying  of  airships  were  being  made,  that  they  laughed 
in  their  sleeves,  saying:  "Let  them  perfect  an  airship — that  suits  us 
all  right.  It  is  not  good  that  some  citizens  are  so  high  above  others 
in  wealth.  That's  what  we  object  too.  They  are  up  so  high  above 
others  in  wealth  and  look  down  on  others  because  they  are  protected 
by  law.  We  want  no  laws.  But  let  them  perfect  a  flying  machine  and 
we  can  rise  as  high  as  the  highest,  and  then  we  can  look  down  on  all 
mankind.  You  bet,  we  will  fill  our  airships  with  the  most  destructive 
bombs  and  then  they  will  hear  something  drop  for  miles  around.  O, 
O,  our  time  is  coming  for  action.  Yes,  and  the  question  will  be — who 
dropped  the  terrible  bombs?  Aad  we  again  can  laugh  in  our  sleeves 
and  also  ask,  Who?  yes,  Who?  but  no  answer  or  information  can  ever 
be  forthcoming." 

"  *  "Boys,"  said  one  of  the  Arkickchists,  "Come  let's  drain  these  mugs 
to  the  health  of  the  gold  bugs — the  few  that  will  be  lucky  enough  to 
escape  our  bombs." 

"  'That,  fellow  citizens,  is  a  record  of  what  was  said  at  a  secret 
Arkickchists'  meeting  held  while  our  airships  were  still  in  the  experi 
mental  stage.  Now  we  have  seen  and  felt  that  theirs  was  no  idle  talk. 
The  mansions  of  the  rich,  the  temple  of  justice  and  several  temples  to 
our  gods,  which  they  destroyed,  shows  that  they  had  previously  studied 
their  various  locations,  situations,  and  in  the  dense  fog  flew  over  same 
and  dropped  the  terrible  bombs  on  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  buildings 
destroyed.  Before  the  fog  vanished  they  had  ample  time  to  fly  far 
away  or  even  fly  directly  down  to  the  earth  again,  without  possible 
danger  of  detection. 

"  'Fellow  citizens,  I  would  at  present  suggest  that  each  airship,  small 
or  large,  should  be  numbered  and  registered,  and  that  all  cities  should 
have  only  one  large,  open  place  from  which  all  airships  should  begin 
their  flight,  and  at  which  places  all  airships  should  alight.  Also  air- 
gazers  should  patrol  the  cities,  and  airship  watches  should  patrol  the 
skies.  In  dense  fog  or  dark  nights  no  airships  should  be  allowed  to  fly 
from  the  stations.  This,  fellow  citizens,  I  regret  to  say,  is  all  I  am 
able  to  suggest  at  the  present  time.' 

"Another  prominent  citizen,  it  seemed,  arose  and  said: 


Morfrhonius's  Dream  405 

"  'Fellow  citizens,  it  is  the  opinion  of  many  that  flying  in  the  air 
should  be  strictly  prohibited  and  that  all  airships  should  be  speedily 
destroyed.  Our  creator  did  not  want  us  to  roam  in  the  air  or  He  would 
have  given  us  wings.  Many  human  beings,  without  being  Arkickchists, 
when  out  of  the  reach  of  the  arms  of  the  law,  feel  inclined,  when  in  an 
airship,  to  drop  down  things,  wondering  whether  they  will  happen  to 
hit  somebody  on  the  head.  We  know  it  so  happens  unto  death  almost 
daily.  Many  more  people  are  being  killed  by  things  falling  down  from 
airships  than  by  lightning. 

"A  large  number  of  the  people  cried  out,  "Yes,  yes.  They  are 
dangerous !  They  are  dangerous !  Prohibit  the  use  of  airships.' 

"The  speaker  continued:  'Yes,  the  flying  airships  should  be  pro 
hibited,  excepting  our  army  air  warships,  which  have  so  gloriously 
defeated  an  invading  army  of  airships  unto  annihilation,  almost.' 
(Loud  applause.) 

"Another  speaker  arose  and  said:  'For  endless  generations  man 
has  thought  and  said:  "The  birds  can  fly,  and  why  can't  I?"  Now  that 
our  scientists  have  discovered  the  secret  of  the  birds'  flight,  and  have 
made  it  possible  for  man,  woman  and  child  to  fly  in  all  direction  to 
great  distances,  with  the  same  swiftness  but  greater  ease  even  than  birds 
of  strongest  flight,  it  would  indeed  be  an  extreme,  yes,  sad  measure 
against  science,  to  prohibit  us  from  flying.  In  view  of  the  danger  to 
life  and  property  that  has  and  can  be  done  by  flyers  I  propose  a  com 
promise  measure,  namely :  a  flyer,  should  not  be  allowed  to  soar  in  the 
air  unless  accompanied  by  an  oflicer  of  the  law.'  (Great  applause 
followed. ) 

"In  my  dream  I  saw  an  airship  dropping  down  stones.  I  thought 
they  would  fall  on  my  head.  I  lost  sight  and  hearing  of  the  further 
doings  of  the  crowd  and  almost  awoke.  The  sight  before  my  eyes  was 
growing  dim.  The  shades  of  night  seemed  to  spread  o'er  land  and  sea. 
In  the  lowering  darkness  I  saw  a  man  standing  near  the  center  of  a 
large  city,  at  the  same  time  he  touched  a  small  button,  he  said :  'Let 
there  be  light,'  and  to  my  astonished  eyes  there  was  light  over  the 
whole  city. 

"But  I  seem  to  have  gone  somewhat  backward  in  my  dream.  I  saw 
a  disabled  air  warship  falling  with  great  speed  straight  down  towards 
me.  In  great  fear  I  awoke  and  found  it  was  all  a  dream. 

"But,  fellow  citizens,  I  immediately  fell  into  a  deep  slumber  again 
and  saw  further  sights,  which  may  be  germane  to  questions  which  we  are 
to  discuss  this  day.  One  would  think  that  the  people  of  that  great, 
wonderful  nation  would  have  been  contented  and  extremely  happy;  but 
in  my  dream  I  remember  of  seeing  a  large  gathering  of  people  who 
claimed,  in  no  uncertain  tones,  that  they  were  not  getting  their  share 
of  the  good  things  of  the  earth,  and  that  others  were  getting  far  more 


406  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

than  their  just  share.  Officers,  it  seemed,  tried  to  pacify  the  crowd.  A 
certain  fear  seemed  to  prevail,  at  least,  in  some  parts  of  the  nation. 
A  man  with  long  hair,  who  no  doubt  thought  himself  a  poet,  read  to  a 
large  assemblage  of  citizens  from  his  scroll  of  parchment,  in  a  deep, 
earnest  voice,  as  follows:  Fellow  citizens: 

OUR  COUNTRY  IS  IN  DANGER 

Our   country    is   in   danger, 

Our  land,  so  grand  and  free, 

From  outside  foe  or  stranger 

No  danger  there  we  see; 

Internal  strife, — contention 

On  industry's  broad  field, 

May  lead,  I  fear  to  mention, — 

To  war,  if  those  don't  yield, 

Who  harvest  unproportionate 

The  fruits  of  others'  toil, 

While  laborers'  oft  unfortunate, 

But  craft  heaps  up  its  spoil. 

Its  equal  education, 

A  spreading  wide  and  fast, 

Demands  more  equal  station, 

Or  peace — it  may  not  last. 

Equality  in  strictness. 

All  nature  proves  can't  be, 

But  modern  times  can't  witness 

Such  wide  discrepancy. 

Our  nation  is  industrious, 

Its  diligence  is  blessed, 

Its  genius  is  illustrious, 

Inventions  do  attest. 

May  Godlike  inspiration, 

Imbue  with  wisdom,  all 

Who  form  our  legislation 

In  matters  great  and  small, 

So  that,  as  onward  marching, 

Our  nation,  great  and  grand, 

Has  JUSTICE  overarching 

Our  loved,  industrious  land. 

Thus  ever-onward,  glorious, 

A  model  nation,  true, 

'Gainst  sordid  greed  victorious, 

Its  flag — red,  white  and  blue, 

Will  wave  still  proud,  and  prouder, 

On  land  and  on  the  sea. 

Be  cheered  still  loud,  and  louder, 

By  all  humanity. 

(The  crowd  cheered  loudly.) 

"Another  crowd  of  citizens  were  listening  to  a  wild  looking  man  whose 
hair  stood  on  end.  He  was  also,  at  times,  applauded.  All  I  could  hear, 
on  account  of  the  great  excitement  that  prevailed  among  the  crowd, 
was: 


Morflhonius's  Dream  407 

O,  labor's  struggling  battle, 

Within  our  nation's  realm, 
May   lead   to   cannon's   rattle, 

'Less   JUSTICE    guides    the   helm! 

"What  'cannon's  rattle'  meant,  we  cannot  know.  But  from  the  ex 
cited  way  he  spoke,  he  meant  something  awful.  The  crowd,  however, 
was  not  nearly  as  excited  as  was  the  speaker  himself. 

"In  another  part  of  the  city  a  speaker  talked  to  also  a  large  assem 
blage  of  citizens  and  said:  'Fellow  citizens,  we  know  various  opinions 
prevail  among  our  citizens  in  regard  to  how  the  products  of  labor  ought 
to  be  allotted,  distributed,  secured,  and  obtained.  We  all,  at  least  the 
greater  number  of  our  citizens,  agree  in  the  fundamental  principle  of 
our  government,  which  is  "Individual  liberty."  There  are,'  he  continued, 
'speaking  of  labor,  three  systems ;  namely,  the  right  of  a  citizen  to  labor 
for  himself,  or  to  labor  for  others  for  pay ;  or  to  become  a  member  of 
a  social  community  formed  by  a  number  of  citizens,  who  own  their 
own  workshop  and  tools,  and  divide  the  product  of  the  combined  labor 
equally,  or  as  such  community  may  agree  upon,  among  its  members. 

"  'In  our  great  nation,'  continued  the  speaker,  'it  is  not  necessary  to 
get  excited  in  discussions  or  disputes,  in  regard  to  the  merits  of  the 
various  systems  of  labor,  for  where  true  individual  liberty  is  the  foun 
dation  stone  of  a  government,  like  that  of  our  great  nation,  the  various 
systems  of  labor  can  be  tried  to  the  fullest  extent  and  conception  of 
their  respective  advocates.  But  in  a  free  nation,  no  citizen  should  be 
forced  to  subscribe  to  any  particular  system,  including  such  social 
communities  referred  to;  but  every  citizen  should,  as  our  great  nation 
does,  be  protected  in  their  freedom  of  choice.'  The  speaker  continued: 
'Beautifully  sounds  the  equal  division  of  the  products  of  labor;  but 
the  best  manner  of  proving  the  practical,  feasible  and  enduring  possi 
bility  of  such  a  social-community  system,  is  for  such,  also  including 
such  wealthy  citizens  who  sincerely  believe  in  a  social-community  sys 
tem,  to  form  such  social  communities;  for  there  is  nothing  in  the  laws 
of  our  great  nation  that  prohibit  such  social  communities.  But  on  the 
contrary  such  systems  will  receive  the  protection  of  our  government,  as 
well  as  do  the  other  systems.  Our  great  nation,'  said  the  speaker,  'is 
large  enough  for  several  systems  of  labor,  and  allowing  each  free 
scope,  without  interfering  with  individual  liberty,  time  alone  will  prove 
the  fittest. 

"  'It  is  certainly  necessary  to  look  at  humanity  as  it  is,  and  not  as 
some  imagine  that  it  ought  to  be.  But  even  those  who  hold  such  im 
aginings,  are  themselves  by  words,  acts  and  deeds  far  from  noble.  It 
is  well  to  recognize  the  fact  that  there  will  always  be  mortals  who  will 
steal,  and  also  the  fact  that  envy,  hate,  selfishness,  suspicion,  and  in 
justice  will  always  find  a  home  in  the  make-up  of  humanity.  And  if 


408  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

that  is  so,  social  communities  such  as  are  so  intensely  advocated  by 
some  of  our  well-meaning  citizens,  would  hardly  seem  possible. 

"  'But,  fellow  citizens,  let  me  emphasize  not  only  my  own  opinion, 
but  the  opinion  of  many  of  our  thoughtful  citizens,  namely :  that  laws, 
without  delay,  should  be  enacted;  that  those  of  our  citizens  who  by 
luck,  fate,  or  any  other  manner  have  gathered  a  great  share  of  wealth 
ought  to  take  from  their  abundance  and  place  yearly  a  part  of  same  in 
the  public  treasury  of  the  state  or  nation.  And,'  the  speaker  con 
tinued,  'it  seems  to  me  that  all  who  oppose  such  laws  are  not  true 
Christians  and  cannot  lay  claim  to  being  Christians;  for  the  justice 
of  such  a  law  cannot  be  gainsaid  by  any  mortal  who  believes  that 
there  is  the  slightest  truth  in  the  saying  that:  man  to  man  is 
brother.'  (Applause  followed.) 

"He  also  shouted:  'For  the  welfare  and  safety  of  our  great  nation 
a  limit  of  the  area  of  land  and  amount  of  wealth  owned  by  a  single 
citizen  or  a  combination  of  citizens  should  be  set  by  law.' 

"The  large  crowd  seemed  to  disperse,  but  the  sound  of  a  deep,  un 
derground  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  seemed  to  travel  to  my  ears. 

"Upon  looking  toward  another  large  city  I  beheld  a  large  gathering 
of  excited  women  in  front  of  an  imposing  edifice.  A  young  man  from 
among  a  number  of  young  men  standing  on  an  elevated  entrance  of  the 
building,  was  addressing  them.  On  account  of  the  shrieks  and  outcries 
and  protests  by  the  women  at  short  intervals  of  time,  I  only  could 
catch  a  part  of  what  he  said. 

"  'Our  great  nation,'  he  said,  'should  be  governed  by  the  strong  and 
not  the  weak.  We  have  enough  weak,  it  is  claimed  among  our  men — 
men  with  women's  hearts  and  minds,  as  it  were,  without  adding  there 
to  the  votes  of  women.  We  should  be  thankful  that  there  are  compara 
tively  few  men  with  women's  hearts  and  women  with  men's  hearts; 
for  'tis  said  that  they  are  not  agreeable  in  the  sight  of  man  and  the 
gods. 

"  'My  dear,  noble  women,'  he  continued,  'upon  the  first  opportunity 
take  a  studious,  thoughtful  look  at  the  male  of  all  animals  that  walk, 
creep,  fly  or  buzz;  and  your  observations  cannot  fail  to  tell  you  that 
the  male  among  the  human  species  is  also  greatly  different  from  the 
female.' 

"Upon  uttering  the  word  'animals'  several  small  stones  flew  in  the 
direction  of  the  speaker;  but  he  paid  no  attention  to  them,  and  con 
tinued  : 

"  'You  will  notice  that  the  difference  is  so  marked  that  you  will 
come  to  no  other  conclusion  but  that  the  Creator  intended  man  to  take 
the  part  of  establishing,  upholding  and  governing  of  nations. 

"  'Let  me  emphasize,'   he  shouted,   'dear,   noble,   beautiful   women ! 


Morphonius's  Dream  409 

Study  the  intent  of  our  Creator,  and  you  will  bow  with  thankfulness  to 
His  wise  decrees.' 

"  'It  has  been  observed  that  as  a  rule  it  is  not  the  good-looking 
women  who  are  fighting  for  woman  suffrage. 

"  'Let  us  not  carry  the  battle  of  the  ballots  into  our  homes ;  for,  as 
one  of  our  wisest  statesmen  has  said:  "The  harmonious  home  is  the 
real  strength  and  bulwark  of  our  great  nation  or — of  any  nation.  To 
invade  the  home  with  any  political  disputes  would  break  up  many 
otherwise  happy  homes.  Woman  suffrage  would  lessen  the  number  of 
such  homes — the  corner-stone  of  our  great  nation." 

"  'A  noted,  charming  woman  said  only  the  other  day.  "What  will 
the  women  want  next?  I  cannot  see  why  any  women  should  want 
the  ballot.  They  are  treated  as  no  women  in  the  world  are  treated 
by  the  men;  the  men  giving  their  best  endeavors  for  women's  personal 
pleasures  and  the  home.  Truly  should  we  feel  proud;  and  trust  the 
ballot  to  the  splendid  manhood  of  our  country." 

"  'My  dear  ladies,'  he  continued,  'she  has  expressed  the  general  pre 
vailing  sentiment  of  all  our  ladies,  we  may  say.  If  the  vote  of  women 
were  to  be  added  to  that  of  our  women  like  men,  it  might  be  said,  "A 
government  of  the  weak,  by  the  weak,  but  not  for  the  weak,"  for  it 
always  requires  the  strong  to  protect  the  weak." 

"The  speaker  reached  down,  and  was  handed  a  small  sheet  of  parch 
ment  from  one  of  the  ladies,  The  speaker  then  said: 

"Noble  Ladies:  This  rhyme  has  been  handed  to  me  by  one  of  the 
charming  young  ladies  of  this  gathering;  and,  as  we  know  you  all  do 
not  take  the  matter  of  the  so-called  women's  suffrage  seriously,  I  will 
read  it : 

WOMEN'S  RIGHTS 

Progress,  progress,  everywhere, 
Progress  here  and  progress  there, 
Progress  'mongst  our  noble  fair, 
And  we  all  can  plainly  see 
What  our  coming  maid  will  be. 

She,  O,  too,  in  Progress  swims, 
With  her  newly  fashioned  whims, 
And  accordingly  she  trims — 
Women's  Rights!    Women's  Rights! 
Is  the  burden  of  her  flights. 

Sentiment  no  more  we'll  find, 
No  more  heart,  but  all  in  mind, 
Is  this  fair  new  womankind; 
What  she  wills,  she  will  insist, 
Therefore  useless  to  resist. 


410  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

She'll  vote  early,  she'll  vote  late; 
And  she'll  surely  rule  the  state. 
Man,  oh,  man,  beware  your  fate! 
All  the  laws  on  love  shall  stand, 
So  she  wills  it — her  command. 

And  what  then  do  you  suppose, 
She  of  course  will  then  propose — 
Pop  the  question — there  it  goes! 
Bachelors  then  will  have  no  rest ; 
All  to  duty  will  be  pressed. 

Man,  O  man,  you're  backward  gcpng, 

And  she  soon  will  have  you  towing 

In  her  wake.        (Applause  ~by  men  and  many  women.) 

"Hereupon  the  young  man  seemed  to  make  his  escape  and  the  women 
at  the  gathering  also  disappeared  from  my  vision. 

"The  people  of  that  wonderful  nation,  it  seemed,  could  make  almost 
anything  they  wanted,  as  if  by  magic.  They  were  wise,  but  not  wise 
enough,  it  seemed,  to  know  that  they  must  not  act  against  the  wishes 
of  their  gods.  The  wisdom  given  them  by  the  gods  made  them  lose 
all  fear  of  the  gods.  I  beheld  also  that  there  was  often  fighting  among 
citizens  as  they  passed  each  other  in  the  city  streets.  I  noticed  they 
would  at  times  hold  a  kind  of  parchment  book  with  the  open  page 
towards  the  one  they  were  passing.  This  was  resented  by  the  other 
and  street  fights  seemed  to  be  frequent.  I  observed  by  holding  up  the 
parchment  book  the  thoughts  of  the  other  became  visible  thereon  and 
so  in  that  manner  the  thoughts  of  others  became  known  and  preserved. 
In  their  godless  wisdom  they  had  learned  to  make  all  kinds  of  death- 
dealing  weapons,  until  they  had  discovered  that  anyone  could,  at  will, 
kill  his  fellow  man  by  simply  walking,  passing  or  standing  near  him 
without  making  it  possible  to  find  out  what  caused  his  death.  Yes, 
could  kill  at  will,  persons  living  in  distant  cities.  The  ruler  of  the 
nation,  prominent  statesmen  and  personages,  it  seemed  were  among 
the  first  against  which  the  invisible  lightning  was  directed.  The  arms 
of  the  law  laid  its  hands  in  its  lap;  for  to  try  to  discover  the  demons 
in  human  form  was  useless.  This  simple  death-dealing  invention  soon 
became  known  to  all  the  people.  It  was  soon  realized  by  all  that  the 
nation  had  arrived  at  a  period  when  it  was  dangerous  to  live. 

"After  some  deaths  had  been  caused  by  the  new  discovery,  suspicion 
ran  boundless,  rampant;  and  from  self-defense,  revenge  or  a  general 
epidemic  of  fear  or  suspicion,  all  soon  ended  in  the  death  of  the  whole 
people  of  that  grand,  wonderful  nation.  Citizen  killed  citizen,  until  not 
a  single  human  being  remained.  Truly  the  people  had  arrived  at  a 
period  when  it  was  not  only  dangerous  to  live,  but  impossible  to  live. 

"Before  me,  in  the  vast  distance,  clearly  to  view,  stood  the  deserted 


Morphonius's  Dream  411 

cities  of  the  now  dead  nation.  Spiders  were  busy  weaving  their  webs 
in  the  former  haunts  of  busy  men. 

"In  my  dream  I  could  see,  almost  hear,  the  great  temples  and  cities 
turn  into  ruins  and  swiftly  crumbling  into  dust.  It  seemed,  in  my 
dream,  that  a  long  lapse  of  time  had  passed  and  I  again  looked  and 
beheld,  where  once  grand  cities  of  the  wonderful  people  had  stood, 
nothing  but  grass,  luxurious  vegetation  and  tall  forests  presented  them 
selves  to  my  view.  Thus  was  the  wonderful  nation  erased  from  the 
face  of  the  earth. 

"A  feeling  of  sadness  overcame  me.  I  awoke,  and  began  to  feel 
better,  knowing  that  it  was  all  only  but  a  dream."  (Great  applause 
followed. ) 

Aegisthon  arose  and  said:  "Fellow  listeners  of  Morphonius's  won 
derful  dream  of  a  wonderful  people,  we  note  that  Morphonius  refers 
mostly  to  a  daylight  vision,  but  I  believe  such  flyers,  before  the  wonder 
ful  nation  died  out,  must  naturally  also  in  the  night  time  have  soared 
among  the  stars  above.  Therefore: 

Morphonius,  from  what  you  say 

These  are  the  thoughts  your  dreams  convey : 

With  Iris  (Mercury)  they'd  vie, 

In  soaring  low  or  swift  or  high 

Above  the  clouds,  Olympian  seat, 

Where  all  the  gods  in  council  meet, 

And  too,  at  night,  when  stars  shone  bright, 

They,  too,  could  take  their  upward  flight 

To  Pleiades,  the  sisters  seven, 

Whose  sparkling  eyes  adorn  the  heaven. 

To  Castor,  Pollux,  brave  could  soar, 

Recall  their  deeds  in  times  of  yore. 

And  Hercules's  heroic  fame, 

They  could  recall  to  him  the  same; 

They'd  always  welcome  be,  you  bet, 

For  all  their  well-earned  praise  would  get, 

To  Perseus,  Jupiter's  son, 

They  could  rehearse  of  vict'ries  won ; 

Also  his  Andromede  feat, 

She,  too,  in  heaven's  a  starry  seat ; 

To  Jupiter,  grand  star  of  night, 

They,  too,  could  wing  their  starry  flight ; 

But  modest  Virgo,  she  would  blush, 

To  hear  men's  praise,  but  they  would  hush, 

And  off,  to  Polaris  would  stray — 

But  he's  so  endless  far  away. 

From  Ursas,  they  would  keep  quite  clear, 

For  they  might  paw  them  on  the  ear 

While  dancing  round  the  polar  star 

Of  Cynosure,  so  far,  so  far! 

Bright  Leo,  well,  they'd  hear  him  roar, 

Before  they'd  get  there,  long  before; 


412  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

And  Taurus,  his  bright  horns  would  show, 

How  near  or  how  far  off  to  go; 

Orion's  bright  extending  arms 

Must  cause  'mong  airships  great  alarms. 

O,  endless  could  their  soaring  be, 

More  endless  than  on  rolling  sea. 

On  crescent  moon,  could  hang  awhile, 

Look  down,  way  down,  on  earth  and  smile; 

To  Venus  on  her  golden  seat 

They'd  often  fly  and  often  meet, 

But  oft'nest  would  their  airships  rise 

To  hear  sweet  music  in  the  skies 

That  floats  from  Lyra's  bright  starlight 

'Midst  all  the  stillness  of  the  night; 

Thus  endless  could  they  soar  and  soar. 

But  I  will  cease.    I'll  say  no  more, 

For  on  this  great  eventful  day 

Matters  grave  brook  no  delay.  (Applause.) 

Lysicrates  said :  "Morphonius's  vision  of  a  wonderful  nation  was  a 
vision,  indeed.  He  certainly  is  a  great  dreamer." 

"Yes,"  said  Ortondes,  "he  certainly  is  the  king  of  dreamers.  First, 
he  builds  up  a  wonderful  people  and  then  has  them  killed  off  by  their 
own  godless  wisdom  and  wickedness." 

Quiontes  said:  "Morphonius's  vision  of  a  wonderful  nation,  it 
seems  to  me,  perhaps,  contains  matter  germane  to  questions  that  we  are 
at  this  time  about  to  discuss." 

Mintonius  said:  "How  can  matters  which  exist  only  in  a  dream,  ex 
ist  only  in  a  visionary  state  of  an  impossible  nation,  have  any  similar 
ity  to  questions  of  fact  which  we  are  about  to  discuss?" 

Quiontes  replied:  "Morphonius's  dream  of  dissatisfied  citizens- 
gathering  in  crowds  to  protest  against  unjust  distribution  of  the  fruits 
of  labor,  alluded  to  by  one  of  the  speakers  and  also  rhymers  of  that 
wonderful  nation,  seems  to  me  to  be  an  assemblage  similar  in  purpose 
to  our  present  gathering.  Perhaps  the  thought  of  this  present  gather 
ing  and  its  purpose  may  have  created  the  dream  and  vision  of  the 
wonderful  nation  in  Morphonius's  brain." 

Pindarus  said:     "Very  like.     Very  like." 

Londio,  wife  of  Strabo,  said :  "Our  great  philosophers  we  remember 
taught  us,  while  yet  in  Athens,  that  some  people  are  wiser  in  their 
dreams  than  in  their  waking  hours.  Therefore,  let  us  not  value  dreams 
and  visions  too  lightly." 

Morphonius  immediately  asked  Londio:  "Is  that  a  reflection 
on  my  waking  hours?" 

Londio  answered:  "Beg  pardon.  I  am  only  alluding  to  dreams  in 
general." 

"I  perceive,"  answered  Morphonius. 

Theseus  ascended  the  flat  rock  and  said:     "In  order  to  progress 


Strict  Equality  Laws  413 

towards  the  important  task  for  which  this  day's  festival  has  been 
principally  set  apart,  let  us  pass  from  visions  and  dreams  to  questions 
of  live,  actual  facts  and  conditions  with  which  we  are  confronted." 
(Applause.) 

Many  shouted,  "Easchylo!  Easchylo!" 

Easchylo  ascended  the  slightly  elevated  rock  rostrum  and  said: 
"Fellow  Athonians,  we  are  through  and  done  with  listening  to  dreams 
and  visions  of  a  wonderful,  impossible  nation.  But  we  are  all  down  on 
earth  again,  standing  on  our  feet,  ready  to  deliberate  on  conditions  as 
we  find  them  in  actual  facts.  We  have  for  many,  many  moons,  been 
laboring,  striving  onward  without  laws.  But  as  time  goes  on,  dissatis 
faction  has  been  growing  stronger  and  stronger,  until  now,  I  believe 
most  of  us  desire  that  Athonia  be  guarded  by  laws." 

"Laws!  Laws!  Laws!"  resounded  in  no  uncertain  tones. 

Easchylo  continued:  "Fellow  Athonians,  I  suggest  that  Plutarius 
act  as  Presido  during  our  deliberations  in  regard  to  the  highly  im 
portant  questions  before  us." 

Plutarius,  from  the  same  rostrum,  said:  "Fellow  Athonians,  we  all 
know  that  the  remaining  part  of  our  festal  day  has  been  set  apart  for 
the  discussion  of  matters  of  great  interest  to  every  one  of  us  Athonians ; 
questions  of  true  justice.  I  wish  to  emphasize  today  that  now  is  the 
time  for  all  of  us  to  speak  aloud  and  give  his  opinion  in  regard  to  the 
past  and  future  of  Athonia.  Now  is  the  time  for  each  of  us,  including 
our  wives,  to  give  full  expression  in  regard  to  past  faults,  dissatisfac 
tion  and  injustice,  and  to  suggest  remedies  that  will  be  based  on  justice 
to  all  of  us.  I  suggest  that  we  come  to  no  conclusion  until  each  and 
every  Athenian  citizen,  including  our  wives,  shall  have  given  their 
opinions  which  may  be  pertinent  to  matters  for  which  we  have  assem 
bled." 

Scriborites : 

I  am  thinking  by  myself,  we  have  no  appointed  scribe  and  as  all 
are  going  to  express  their  opinions,  I  shall  record  that  which  I  have 
an  inclination  to  and  somewhat  at  my  convenience  and  at  leisure. 
Therefore  a  few  only  of  the  many  opinions  and  addresses  will  be 
recorded  on  my  roll  of  records. 

Plutarius  further  said :  "Fellow  Athenians :  To  begin  with,  who 
may  we  call  upon  for  opinions  and  suggestions?" 

Many  names  both  of  men  and  women  were  called  out,  until  Lycur- 
gius  came  forth  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  so  far  we  have  gotten 
along  without  laws.  But  now  we  have  arrived  at  a  stage  where  a 
stated  rule  or  guide  to  conduct  in  our  dealings  with  one  another  is 
absolutely  necessary — in  other  words,  a  code  of  laws  should  be  formu 
lated  for  mutual  benefit  and  protection. 

"All  the  fruits  of  the  field  and  other  kinds  of  labor  are  gathered 


414  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

into  one  store-house  and  dealt  out  in  equal  measure  to  each  of  us  Athe 
nians,  when  we  know  that  grains  and  other  articles  have  not  been 
brought  to  the  store-house  in  equal  measure.  To  divide  equally  is 
easy,  simple;  but  to  produce  equally  is  difficult,  yes,  impossible.  While 
some  worked  diligently,  many  were  wont  to  loiter  leisurely,  hunting 
wild  game  in  the  forests ;  the  result  often  ending  in  nothing.  But  too 
many  are  the  reasons  which  are  unsatisfactory  to  honest  toil  that  I 
will  leave  others  to  state  the  same." 

Lycurgius  was  followed  by  many  other  speakers,  both  men  and 
women,  who  dwelt  upon  the  great  dissatisfaction  and  injustice  caused 
by  equal  distribution  to  such  as  had  produced  little  or  nothing  com 
paratively.  Ziontius,  one  of  the  speakers  said:  "We  have  no  laws, 
and  things  so  far  have  gone  along  by  chance  as  it  were.  Every  one 
tried  to  rule,  but  none  obeyed. 

"Justice  seems  to  have  taken  flight  to  a  greater  and  greater  dis 
tance. 

"We  all  at  first  agreed  to  have  no  laws  with  the  single  exception 
that  the  product  of  our  combined  labor  should  be  equally  distributed 
to  all.  We  all  wanted  to  have  the  greatest  freedom  possible  and  did 
not  want  to  be  hampered  by  laws.  Liberty  unlimited  to  the  highest 
ideal  extent,  and  no  laws  was  our  unanimous  desire.  Laws,  we  thought, 
interfered  with  true  liberty  and  freedom. 

"But  our  many  moons  of  experience  with  no  laws  have  made  it 
plain  to  us  that  the  idea  of  no  law  is  the  greatest  enemy  of  our  much 
desired  liberty  and  freedom.  We  have  found  that  there  was  no  author 
ity  to  interfere  with  such  as  interfered  with  the  liberty  of  others. 
Every  one  had  the  liberty  to  molest  others  in  their  work  or  while 
walking  peaceably  from  place  to  place.  Without  the  fear  of  law, 
many  acted  in  a  suprising  manner  towards  others,  in  many  cases, 
almost  ending  in  bloodshed.  We  have  so  far  no  general  understanding 
as  to  acts  that  ought  or  ought  not  be  tolerated.  Each  one,  individually, 
or  in  groups  had  to  defend  themselves  against  or  punish  those  who 
interfered  with  his  or  their  liberty.  It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of 
the  constantly  growing  strife  even  unto  bloodshed,  on  account  of  the 
absence  of  laws." 

Gracio  arose  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians:  We  are  about  to  dis 
cuss  the  forming  of  laws.  The  first  laws  of  our  nation  should  be  such 
as  will  perpetuate  a  noble  race  of  people,  laws  that  will  tend  to  and 
call  forth  the  noblest  work  of  our  Creator,  namely:  perfect,  strong, 
beautiful,  noble,  courageous,  wise  men  and  women.  I  care  not  what 
form  of  government  we  may  have;  such  a  race  will  not  allow  injustice 
to  long  remain  in  the  land,  for  it  will,  as  we  are  this  day  going  to  do, 
banish  injustice  against  individual  and  community.  (Applause.) 

"Fellow  Athenians,  let  us  ever  remember,  and  let  our  laws  be  in 


Strict  Equality  Laws  415 

harmony  with  this,  that  which  most  delighteth  the  eyes  of  Zeus  is  a  noble, 
strong,  courageous  and  wise  man  and  woman.  Therefore,  let  the  main 
tenance  of  the  Olympic  games  become  a  part  of  our  laws,  expressing, 
as  they  do,  the  fact  that  the  body  of  man  has  a  glory  as  well  as  his 
intellect  and  spirit.  Also  that  body  and  mind  should  alike  be  disci 
plined  ;  and  that  it  is  by  the  harmonious  discipline  of  both  body  and 
mind  that  men  and  women  best  honor  Zeus. 

"Let  the  new  laws  state  that  at  all  festivals  a  large  part  of  the  day 
shall  be  set  apart  for  sports,  games  and  contests. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  let  us  form  laws  that  may  perpetuate  a  noble 
race  of  mankind,  and,  keeping  before  us  a  high  standard  in  this  regard, 
it  will  beyond  all  fear  place  the  form  of  government  of  Athonia  on  a 
high  standard,  too ;  for  our  philosophers  at  Athens  have  taught  us  that 
the  laws  and  kind  of  government  of  a  nation  is  the  reflection  of  the 
strength,  courage  and  wisdom  of  its  people. 

"Lawtonius,  we  remember,  said  in  an  oration  at  Athens,  on  gov 
ernment:  'Tell  me  what  form  of  government  people  live  under,  and  I 
will  address  you  on  the  standing,  kind,  strength,  courage  and  wisdom 
of  its  people.' 

"Fellow  Athenians,  as  the  people,  so  the  government.  Therefore, 
the  most  important  laws  for  a  nation's  strength  and  blessings  for  the 
individual  man  and  woman  are  laws  that  will  tend  to  give  the  nation 
a  noble  race  of  citizens.  As  its  citizens,  so  will  Athonia  be  now  and 
evermore."  (Applause.) 

After  a  large  number  of  men  and  women  had  spoken  on  injustice 
and  justice,  many  called  on  Hypnothoon  to  give  his  opinions  and  sug 
gestions. 

I  will  record  his  remarks.     He  said: 

"Fellow  Athenians :  From  the  large  number  of  lengthy  addresses 
to  which  we  have  listened,  it  is  plain  that  we  are  quite  harmonious  in 
regard  to  what  the  fundamental  laws  for  Athonia  ought  to  be.  Our 
minds  and  thoughts  are  on  the  plane  of  noble  righteousness.  As  you 
have  called  upon  me  to  also  give  my  opinions  in  regard  to  laws  for 
our  Athonia,  I  can  not  add  anything  new  to  that  which  has  already 
been  proposed  by  many  of  the  speakers.  But  I,  also,  shall  try  to  fully 
express  my  opinion  and  suggestions,  as  called  upon  to  do.  Fellow 
Athonians,  all  great  events  come  to  pass  by  the  wish  of  the  gods. 
It  was  the  wish  of  the  gods  that  we  should  be  cast  upon  this  distant, 
unknown  shore,  at  the  same  time  preventing  us  from  sailing  over  the 
end  of  the  world.  To  rehearse,  on  the  shore  of  this  wild,  unknown 
land,  our  great  ship  was  totally  wrecked.  Upon  having  safely  landed, 
we  all  aided  in  the  task  of  building  our  large,  one-story  stone  temple, 
which  was  by  willing  hands  soon  completed.  At  first  our  two  hundred 
apartment  homes  were  in  the  temple;  but  the  erection  of  two  hundred 


416  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

durable,  comfortable  homes  has  given  each  couple  a  separate  home, 
and  our  large  stone  temple  stands  now  dedicated  as  the  Temple  of 
Zeus,  for  worship  and  for  holding  our  gatherings,  if  the  weather  neces 
sitates.  May  the  light  burning  on  its  altar  never  grow  dim!  Our 
Temple  of  Zeus  stands  on  the  south  end  of  the  wide  public  way,  on 
each  side  of  which,  at  good  distances  apart,  we  have  each  our  homes. 
The  land  adjoining  endlessly,  we  all  know,  belongs  in  common  for  the 
community's  good.  Our  buildings  have  no  beauty  lines  or  ornamenta 
tion,  such  as  have  the  buildings  of  our  ever-to-be-remembered  Athens. 
They  are  all  plain  and  durable  only,  as  our  situation  necessitates. 

"The  location  of  our  city  of  Athonia  is  situated  some  distance  from 
the  sea,  as  we  and  our  descendants  can  never  hope  to  build  a  ship 
like  our  wrecked  Aeolus,  and,  besides,  we  have  all  had  enough  of  the 
sea.  It  was  plainly  the  will  of  the  gods  that  we  should  be  wafted  here 
and  settle  here  and  build  up  a  grand  nation.  Yes,  it  is  plain  that 
the  gods  wished  it — that  the  select,  which  we  are,  should  lay  the 
foundation  for  a  nation  whose  laws  should  be  so  far  superior  to  those 
of  ancient  regimes,  as  we  are  superior  to  all  the  rest  of  mankind.  Yes, 
we  can  almost  hear  our  gods  say,  'Yes,  we  have  a  right  to  expect  more 
of  you.  You  have  been  endowed  with  superior  excellencies.' 

"Fellow  Anthonians,  every  end  is  followed  by  a  new  beginning. 
After  our  great  adventure  came  to  an  abrupt  end,  a  new  beginning 
immediately  sprang  up.  The  building  of  Athonia  here  denotes  a  new 
beginning. 

"Even  before  Ithobal,  the  Phoenician,  suggested  and  urged  Athe 
nians  to  build  ships  and  foster  commerce,  did  the  gods  plan  our  set 
tling  here.  The  will  of  the  gods  always  comes  to  pass  in  due  time. 
Great  events  are  planned  by  the  gods,  moons  and  moons  in  advance, 
unknown  to  man.  The  seed  is  planted,  and  after  a  longer  or  shorter 
time  only  stands  forth  the  ripe  fruit.  So,  too,  have  the  gods  selected 
Ithobal,  the  Phoenician,  as  their  instrument,  unknown  to  himself, 
to  urge  Athenians  to  build  ships  of  commerce.  He  acted  unconsciously, 
according  to  their  designs.  Therefore,  it  being  the  wish  of  the  gods 
that  we  should  settle  and  establish  a  great  superior  nation  here,  we 
cannot  but  feel  that  we  have  geen  greatly  honored  by  the  gods,  and  it 
behooves  us  all,  by  sublime  noble  thought  and  deeds,  to  prove  our 
selves  worthy  of  their  high  esteem.  Not  only,  it  seems,  have  our  Athe 
nian  philosophers,  bards  and  poets  discerned  the  difference  in  laws  of 
nations  in  regard  to  noble  human  rights,  but  the  gods  also  have  not 
failed  to  behold  man's  inhumanity  to  man.  As  one  of  our  profound 
Athenian  philosophers  said,  'Only  the  strong,  undaunted,  courageous 
and  wise  are  fit  for  the  upholding  of  a  nation,  where  true  justice  can 
stand  forth  in  the  sunlight  of  day.'  Men  that  know  their  rights  and 
are  strong,  courageous  and  wise  enough  to  maintain  them, — such  must 


Strict  Equality  Laws  417 

be  the  stamina  of  a  people  that  constitute  a  truly  noble,  righteous 
nation. 

"Such,  fellow  Athenians,  are,  we  believe,  each  and  all  of  us,  the 
Four  Hundred,  or  we  would  not  be  worthy  of  being  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  our  heroic,  wise  Grecian  fathers  and  mothers.  (Great 
applause.) 

"We  may  think,  at  times,  that  we  are  unnecessarily  repeating  facts 
over  and  over  again;  but  it  is  better  to  repeat  often  things  which  are 
true  than  to  announce  once  that  which  is  false.  Fellow  Athenians, 
through  things  taught  us,  we  all,  until  we  pass  to  the  shades  below, 
love  to  revert  our  thoughts  back  to  our  never-again-to-be-seen  Athens. 
The  emblem  of  undying  hope,  the  beautiful  rainbow  flag  of  our  once 
proud  ship  Aeolus,  which  we  have  adopted  as  the  flag  of  our  nation 
of  Athonia,  waving  proudly  at  the  flagstaff  on  the  Temple  of  Zeus, 
recalls  to  mind  the  following:  Pandora,  the  most  beautiful  of  women, 
was  presented  by  the  gods  with  a  box  filled  with  blessings,  with  a 
command  not  to  open  the  box.  But,  inquisitive  woman  that  she  was, 
she  raised  the  lid  and  all  the  blessings  escaped,  only  hope,  at  the 
bottom,  remaining.  So,  too,  fellow  Athenians,  had  we  a  box — our 
ship — filled  with  blessings;  but  upon  its  wrecking-  all  there  was  left 
was  'HOPE.'  But,  fellow  Athenians,  courage,  spurred  unceasingly 
on  by  hope,  can  and  will  not  fail  to  accomplish  that  for  which  the 
gods  have  wafted  us  here.  (Applause.) 

"The  gods  have  put  us  on  a  test — a  trial  here.  We  have  no  war 
to  wage  against  nations.  We  need  build  no  walls  around  our  city. 
The  gods  have  allotted  this  great,  fruitful  new  land  to  ourselves. 

"Fellow  Four  Hundred  of  Athonia,  shall  we  succeed?  Shall  we 
turn  out  to  be  victors,  in  the  eyes  of  our  gods? 

"Truly,  it  is  not  fitting  to  applaud;  for  great  do  we  all  feel  is  the 
responsible  task  imposed  upon  us.  And  success  is  the  only  applause 
that  would  be  as  music  to  the  ears  of  gods  and  men. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  we  all  desire  that  our  form  of  government 
shall  be  based  upon  the  proposition  that  man  to  man  is  brother.  And 
that  equality  shall  be  the  first  and  principal  watchword  of  our  Athonia 
unto  endless  generations  yet  unborn.  (Applause.) 

"So  far,  we  have  for  many  moons  labored  and  consumed  without 
laws,  excepting  the  understanding  that  all  would  do  their  full  share 
of  labor,  and  that  all  would  receive  an  equal  share  of  the  result. 

"There  is  no  people  that  could  have  succeeded  as  well  and  long 
without  laws  as  we  have,  but  it  is  beyond  dispute  that  as  time  passed 
on,  a  greater  and  greater  number  shirked  from  doing  their  full  share 
of  work;  and  it  is  claimed  some  have  even  developed  into  full-fledged 
drones. 

"But  all,  regardless  of  labor  performed,  came  to  our  store  treasure 


418  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

house,  where  all  received  equal  share  with  those  who  were  fully  in 
dustrious.  We  are  all  determined  to  continue  and  proceed  on  the 
principle  that  man  to  man  is  brother,  but  such  principle,  we  are  deter 
mined,  shall  live  in  deed  as  well  as  in  word.  Many  have  for  a  long 
time  closed  one  eye  in  regard  to  such  of  us  who  did  not  faithfully, 
honestly  perform  their  full  share  of  labor,  hoping  that  the  tide  would 
again  turn  toward  equal  labor  as  well  as  receiving  equal  share  of  the 
result  of  all  labor.  But  the  shirking  of  some  for  imaginary  causes, 
did  not  have  the  effect  of  spurring  others  of  us  to  labor,  but  had  the 
very  opposite  effect,  until  all  of  us  are  glad  to  say  we  have  this  day 
gathered  in  general  council  to  formulate  laws  based  on  the  proposition 
that  to  such  as  do  not  labor  food  and  raiment  shall  not  be  dealt. 
With  this  exception:  unless  unfit  through  illness  or  old  age,  attested 
by  our  health  officer.  (Applause.)  Such  as  are  ill  and  aged,  when  in 
many  moons  the  time  comes,  shall  not  be  in  want.  (Applause.) 

"This,  fellow  Athenians,  is  the  foundation  on  which  our  Athenian 
laws  should  stand.  Hunger  would  be  the  strenuous  penalty  of  our  laws 
for  him  who  labors  not  though  he  be  strong.  And  to  such  that  labor 
less  than  their  share,  in  such  proportion  shall  his  share  be  meted  out 
to  him.  We  all  remember  what  our  Athenian  philosopher  taught  us, 
namely :  'Without  punishment  there  is  no  betterment.'  Laws  without 
penalty  are  futile  and  ineffective.  Our  laws,  I  imagine,  should  be  so 
plain  to  each  and  all  that  in  reality  each  calls  forth  and  imposes  his 
own  penalty  by  disregarding  the  law. 

"Laws  should  be  looked  upon  by  every  honest  citizen  as  a  guide 
agreed  upon  by  the  community  as  to  what  is  best  between  citizen  and 
citizen  and  state,  for  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  state.  There  is 
another  opinion  which  I  hold  in  common  with  a  number  of  our  citizens, 
namely;  to  change  certain  matters  just  opposite  to  the  custom  which 
has  obtained  from  time  immemorial  in  all  lands.  We  have  all  ob 
served  and  know  that  from  time  without  end,  such  of  a  community 
that  performed  the  most  disagreeable,  hardest  labor,  worked  the  long 
est,  received  the  least  pay,  and  are  on  such  account,  no  matter  how 
useful,  valuable,  necessary  or  dangerous  such  work  might  be,  looked 
down  upon  with  a  sort  of  disdain  by  such  whose  occupation  does  not 
require  hard  work  or  is  of  a  more  genteel  nature.  We  also  know 
that  from  time  immemorial  in  all  lands,  such  of  the  citizens  whose 
occupation  demands  no  hard  labor  hold  desirable,  genteel  positions, 
work  a  shorter  time,  receive  greater  pay,  are  held  in  higher  respect 
by  the  community. 

"In  all  communities,  excepting  our  own,  it  cannot  perhaps  be  other 
wise;  for  there  are  vast  differences  between  the  various  classes  com 
posing  communities  as  a  whole.  But  here  we  constitute  a  community 
of  strict  equality.  No  other,  no  second  community  like  ours  exists 


Strict  Equality  Laws  419 

on  this  world's  wide  plain.  We  would  not  submit  to  a  system  under 
which  such  of  us  who,  of  necessity  for  the  community's  needs,  labor 
the  hardest  should  at  the  same  time  work  longer,  receive  less  pay, 
and  in  addition,  as  a  punishment,  receive  the  disrespect  of  such  of 
the  community  that  work  less  hours  at  work  that  requires  no  hard 
labor,  is  more  agreeable  and  genteel,  and  receive  more  pay  and  greater 
respect  of  their  fellow  men.  Such  a  system  cannot  obtain  among  us, 
the  Four  Hundred,  for  we  are  all  equal  and  each  and  all  of  us  demand 
equality  in  all  things.  There  shall  be  no  class,  high  or  low,  in  Athonia. 
There  shall  exist  no  privileged  class  whatever.  Prerogatives  shall  find 
no  home  here. 

"Much  could  be  said  on  these  particulars,  but  we  are  all  graduates 
of  our  Athenian  schools,  and  it  is  not  necessary  to  dwell  at  length 
on  customs  which  we  are  all  determined  shall  not  obtain  in  Athonia. 
(Applause.) 

"The  building  and  maintenance  of  a  city  or  nation  require  various 
kinds  of  labor.  Those  who  work  down  in  the  ditches  or  handle  heavy 
stone,  trees  and  the  like,  or  do  other  kinds  of  hard  labor,  should  work 
less  hours  than  those  who  do  work  of  a  more  desirable,  genteel  nature. 
Fellow  Athenians,  it  is  my  opinion,  in  common  with  many  others  of 
our  community,  that  we  should  break  entirely  away  from  the  customs 
and  systems  of  all  other  lands,  where  those  who  labor  hardest  and 
longest  receive  the  least  pay  and  recognition  of  the  community.  Yes, 
I  know  that  we  are  all  determined  that  such  a  system,  although  it 
obtains  in  all  lands  now  and  forever,  likely,  shall  not  obtain  here  in 
Athonia,  for  we  are  all  equal.  (Great  applause.) 

"Equality  is  the  word  that  must  pass  through  our  community  from 
one  end  to  the  other  unto  endless  generations  of  our  descendants. 
(Applause.)  Equality  in  all  things,  in  material  things,  in  power  of 
command,  by  changing  places,  at  frequent  intervals,  from  one  exalted 
to  another's  more  lowly  position,  and  vice  versa.  In  all  games  and 
contests  also  equality  should  be  maintained  in  changing  the  position 
of  leader  by  lot. 

"In  our  community,  where  all  are  graduates  of  our  Athenian  schools, 
the  holding  of  a  position  of  command  is  not  looked  upon  as  in  other 
lands  of -the  world,  to  denote  special  fitness  and  wisdom;  but  is 
regarded  as  holding  a  position  of  necessity  to  the  state,  and  as  a 
servant  of  the  people;  for  each  of  us  has  equal  ability  with  him  who 
may  chance  to  hold  by  our  consent  or  choice  a  position  of  command. 

"Therefore,  I  suggest  that  the  various  kinds  of  duties  and  labor 
performed  shall  all  receive  an  equal  share  of  the  products  of  labor 
produced  by  the  labor  of  the  whole  community.  I  also  suggest  that 
different  durations  of  time  during  a  day  shall  be  set  by  general  agree 
ment  for  different  kinds  of  labor,  and  to  break  entirely  away  from 


420  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

custom  out  of  mind,  so  that  the  shortest  time  be  set  for  the  hardest 
and  most  disagreeable  labor,  the  next  hardest  the  next  shortest  time, 
and  so  constituting  seven  different  lengths  of  time  to  labor;  the  most 
agreeable  and  most  genteel  labor  to  be  required  to  work  the  longest 
number  of  hours.  All  should  receive  the  same  pay,  the  same  share 
dealt  out  to  each  from  the  community's  store-house.  This,  fellow 
Athenians,  is  my  opinion,  in  common  with  others.  Such  a  system, 
taking  our  equality  into  consideration,  is  based  on  strict,  palpable 
justice.  Perfect,  strict  justice  to  the  individual  and  to  the  state  is 
what  we  want  our  laws  to  be  based  on.  (Applause.)  We,  the  grad 
uates  of  the  high  schools  of  Athens,  easily  and  immediately  discern 
between  acts  or  intentions  that  are  honorable  or  otherwise,  and  can 
immediately  detect  designs  and  actions  for  taking  unjust  advantage 
of  others. 

"In  other  words,  our  equal  high  standing  of  intellect  as  graduates 
immediately  detects  any  design  in  words  and  action  which  may  intend 
to  lead  to  the  exploitation  of  one's  labor  for  the  benefit  of  others. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  our  law  should  make  it  impossible  for  one  or 
any  number  of  our  citizens  of  Athonia  to  exploit  and  derive  special 
benefit  from  the  labor  of  others,  or  for  any  one  or  number  of  citizens 
to  become  wealthy  through  the  diligence  of  other  citizens.  Equal 
distribution  in  the  good  things  of  the  earth;  equality  in  all  things. 
Let  the  word  'Equality'  be  synonymous  with  the  word  Athonia.  (Ap 
plause.) 

"Such  as  have  been  given  superior  ability  in  moons  to  come  by  the 
gods  to  gather  the  good  things  of  the  earth  should  use  such  pre 
eminent  mentality  given  them  by  the  gods  for  the  good  of  Athonia, 
on  the  sublime  principle  that  it  is  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  the  gods  for 
man  to  devote  such  surplus  superiority  to  the  public  good,  rather  than 
to  sordid,  selfish  personal  aggrandizement.  Such  sentiments  have  no 
place  and  are  not  fitting  for  any  other  people  on  the  world's  wide 
plain,  excepting  our  Athonia,  established  by  the  Four  Hundred.  We 
do  not,  can  not,  and  must  not  compare  ourselves  with  the  standing 
of  people  of  other  lands.  We  should  place  the  laws  of  our  Athonia 
on  such  sublime  heights  of  human  justice  as  to  be  a  delight  in  the 
eyes  of  the  gods,  and  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the  people  of  all 
other  lands. 

"The  higher  positions  of  our  Athonia  should  not  be  held  longer 
than  seven  moons  by  any  one  citizen.  Citizens  that  come  in  conflict 
with  the  established  laws  of  Athonia  should  come  before  a  council 
of  citizens  drawn  by  lot.  Such  council  should  decide  as  to  whether 
one  is  or  is  not  guilty,  and  if  guilty  to  prescribe  penalty  as  they  see  fit. 
Here  each  and  all  would  have  the  honor  of  being  tried  by  his  peers. 

"If,  on  account  of  the  deep  disgrace  that  may  hang  over  him,  the 


Strict  Equality  Laws  42 1 

accused  does  not  feel  as  if  he  could  fully  explain  his  case,  he  should 
have  the  right  to  select  such  as  he  desires  to  assist  him.  All  cases 
should  be  heard  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus,  our  council  and  gathering  hall. 
Equality  should  be  preserved,  in  all  matters  of  life,  also  of  death.  But 
this  day  I  will  only  allude  to  matters  of  life.  No  citizen  should  at 
tempt  to  change  his  building,  home  or  surrounding  grounds  so  that  it 
looks  like  an  improvement  over  that  of  his  neighbors,  or  any  of  the 
rest  of  the  citizens  of  Athonia.  If  improvements  are  to  be  made,  it 
should  first  be  agreed  upon  in  full  public  council,  so  that  each  will 
remain  equal,  for  we  desire  none  to  shine  forth  above  others  in  any 
particular.  Also  in  raiment  all  should,  as  we  so  far  have  been,  clad 
in  the  same  fashion  and  same  colored  garments.  Equality  should  and 
must  be  observed  by  all  in  every  detail,  for  details  are  often  of  more 
importance  than  suspected.  This  also  should,  as  it  so  far  has,  include 
the  raiment  of  our  children.  Equality  in  all  matters  should  be  im 
pressed  upon  generation  to  generation. 

"Where  strict  equality  reigns,  there  envy,  jealousy,  hatred,  base 
attendants  of  the  human  mind,  can  find  no  dwelling  place.  Let  us 
bear  in  mind  that  which  is  not  good  for  the  swarm  is  not  good  for 
the  bee.  Where  strict  equality  reigns  there  is  no  place  for  wrong  or 
the  fault  finder — no  clashing  of  the  classes. 

"Where  true  equality  reigns,  peace,  temperance,  progress  and  pros 
perity  crown  the  nation  for  the  welfare  of  its  people. 

"Titles  of  superiority  should  find  no  home  in  Athonia,  for  they  are 
incompatible  with  equality.  Gifts  should  not  be  given  nor  be  accepted 
by  such  as  hold  public  positions;  for  a  gift  leaneth  the  heart  towards 
the  giver. 

"Athenians,  I  am  sure  that  our  breasts  cannot  but  swell  with  a 
conscious  pride  that  we  have  been  fated  to  establish  a  nation  whose 
laws  of  human  rights  stand  above  the  rest  of  the  people  of  all  other 
lands  in  the  world — laws  which  are  fit  only  for  the  high  born  of  the 
earth.  Not  one  or  two  or  a  number  should  wear  plumes,  but  all,  or 
none,  should  be  allowed  to  wear  plumes.  Equality  should  prevail  in 
a  straight  line  the  same  as  the  land  and  sea  extend  in  one  straight 
line  from  one  end  of  the  world  to  the  other.  The  gods  have  placed 
many  useful  and  beautiful  things  all  over  the  world's  wide  plain,  but 
they  have  conspired  to  make  it  so  that  man  must,  by  the  sweat  of 
his  brow,  search,  toil  and  fashion.  All  useful  and  beautiful  work  is 
divine  and  beloved  by  the  gods  and  men. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  this  land  to  which  the  Fates  have  wafted  us, 
although  a  hot  climate,  is  fruitful  and  has  many  useful  and  beautiful 
grains,  fruits,  plants  and  flowers  to  claim  our  toil,  including  corn, 
cotton,  henequin,  sugar  cane,  also  stones  and  woods  of  endless  varie 
ties;  also  the  forests  abound  in  wild  game  and  beautiful  birds.  Hunt- 


422  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ing  and  fishing,  fellow  Athenians,  ought  to  be  indulged  in  by  us  as  a 
recreation  and  sport  only,  and  not  as  a  daily  necessity,  for  such  is  the 
life  of  wild  men  only.  Minerva  gave  skill  and  wisdom  unto  our  fore 
fathers,  and  thus  brought  them  out  of  the  woods  away  from  wander 
ing  nomads  into  cities;  and  it  behooves  us  not  to  allow  ourselves  to 
fall  back  into  the  woods  through  lack  of  earnest,  useful  labor,  which 
we  well  know  is  the  foundation  of  all  human  progress." 

At  this  juncture  of  Hypnothoon's  address,  Annia,  wife  of  Theseus, 
spoke  up  and  said:  "Noble  Hypnothoon,  so  far  we  have  had  no 
real  laws,  and  so  far  we  have  enjoyed  our  equal  rights  with  you 
men;  but  in  all  lands  where  the  sword  of  laws  is  held  over  the  people, 
women  have  no  rights.  The  only  right  they  have  is  to  honor  and 
obey  their  husbands  in  the  most  pleasant  and  slavish  manner  possible. 
To  work  harder  and  longer  than  oxen  ought  to  is  their  privilege  also. 

"As  we  are  about  to  formulate  laws  for  Athonia,  we  want  to  em 
phasize  that  we  have  been  giving  a  great  deal  of  attention,  labor  and 
thought  in  the  rearing  of  Athonia's  future  strong,  beautiful  and  wise 
men  and  women,  and  also  have  assisted  in  many  other  kinds  of  work, 
including  spinning  and  weaving ;  and  having  become  accustomed  to 
take  a  part  in  the  councils  of  all  our  gatherings,  we  wish  to  have  it 
understood,  now  that  Athonia  is  to  be  governed  by  laws,  that  we,  its 
women,  will  not  take  a  backward  step;  but  we  all  agree  with  noble 
Hypnothoon,  that  strict  equality  should  be  the  foundation  of  all  Atho- 
nian  laws,  including  equal  rights  for  men  and  women  in  all  particulars. 

"Fellow  Athonians,  we  are  graduates  of  the  same  high  schools  of 
Athens.  To  express  our  wishes  and  demands  in  the  most  concise 
manner  possible,  I  will  say  we  demand  women's  rights  to  stand  forth 
as  one  of  the  foundation  principles  of  Athonian  law."  (Applause,  by 
ladies  mostly.) 

The  men  looked  at  each  other  and  smiled.  Annia  proceeded  amidst 
great  applause  by  the  ladies,  saying:  "Fellow  Four  Hundred,  fellow 
castaways,  fellow  citizens  of  Athonia!  We  know  that  in  the  light  of 
the  new  higher  justice,  we  intend  to  and  will  incorporate  women's 
rights  in  the  laws  of  our  nation  of  Athonia,  to  the  blessing  of  our 
descendants,  men  and  women,  unto  endless  generations,  thus,  our 
bosoms  heaving  with  pride  and  hope,  we  can  say: 

Equality,  that  magic  word, 
Which  in  the  poet's  rhyme  is  heard, 
Since  first  began  the  human  race, 
Has  found  at  last  its  rightful  place. 

(Applause  ly  ladies.} 


Strict  Equality  Laws  423 

Annia  continued: 

Equal  all  in  law  as  one, 

With  joy  we  hail  our  victory  won. 

Our  muse,  O,  now  can  sing  of  Thee, 

In  sweetest  flowing  melody; 

Equality !    Equality ! 

Unto,  we  pray,  Eternity.  (Applause.) 

Hypnothoon  continued  and  said:  "Noble  Annia,  noble  ladies,  all: 
In  reply  I  must  say  that  which  we  never  thought  would  be  necessary 
to  state,  namely,  that  we  men  are  not  only  conscious  of  the  high,  supe 
rior  blessings  and  excellencies  bestowed  upon  us  men,  but  that  we  are, 
and  always  have  been,  fully  conscious  of  the  superior  blessings,  excel 
lencies,  even  in  a  greater  degree,  that  have  been  bestowed  upon  you 
by  the  gods,  noble  ladies.  Many  a  wise  thought  of  yours,  noble  ladies, 
have  we  intertwined  in  our  deeds.  Men  constitute  only  half  of  human 
kind,  and,  we  may  acknowledge,  not  the  better  half.  I  am,  like  the 
rest  of  us,  only  giving  my  opinion  as  to  what  laws  and  regulations  I 
would  deem  desirable  for  Athonia.  As  for  myself,  I  have  never  held 
any  other  thought  but  that  our  ladies  should  stand  equal  in  the  eyes 
of  the  law  with  us  men.  In  other  words,  to  speak  plainly,  I  am  un 
equivocally  for  women's  rights,  as  noble  Annia  expresses  it.  (Great 
applause.)  Therefore,  in  my  opinion,  all  the  ladies  should,  as  they 
so  far  have  done,  give  their  full  views  on  all  matters  of  law  without 
hesitation. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  I  agree  with  Gratio,  who  has  led  in  our  athletic 
games  and  contests,  that  the  first  and  most  important  desideratum  in 
regard  to  laws  should  be  such  laws  as  will  tend  to  preserve  the  noble 
race  of  men  and  women.  Therefore,  I  would  suggest  laws  that  would 
compel  all  to  be  examined  at  birth,  and  on  every  recurring  eighty- 
fourth  full  moon,  until  death,  the  health  officer  to  make  a  record  of 
the  health  at  each  examination,  and  if  ailing  to  state  the  cause  of 
same.  The  general  opinion  should  prevail  that  in  many  cases  sickness 
is  a  crime.  Prizes  should  be  given  to  such  as  are  never  sick.  Also  I 
would  advocate  laws  that  would  require  every  citizen  to  come  before 
a  truth  board  of  seven  citizens  on  the  day  following  every  thirteenth 
full  moon  and  confess  his  sins,  wrongdoings  and  unjust  actions  against 
the  gods  and  fellow  men.  Advice  to  lead  us  on  a  path  of  truth  should 
follow. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  most  of  the  laws  which  I  have  suggested  have 
also  been  alluded  to  by  many  of  the  other  speakers.  I  will  add  only 
some  thoughts  which  might,  perhaps,  have  some  relation  to  laws. 
The  Goddess  of  Education  flourishes  the  sword  with  which  imposition, 
inequality  and  injustice  are  most  effectively  banished. 


424  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Strength  and  Justice,  hand  in  hand, 
Alone  can  make  a  nation  grand. 

"Man  is  a  gregarious  social  being  and  was  not  born  for  himself 
alone,  but  for  mankind. 

"A  sickly  man  or  woman  is  not  a  full  man  or  woman,  which  is  the 
duty  of  all  to  strive  for,  so  as  to  be  able  to  do  his  or  her  full  duty  as 
a  citizen  towards  the  state,  in  peace  and  war. 

"In  a  state  harmony  should  exist  between  private  and  public  good. 

"Every  member  of  a  state  should  be  of  some  use  to  himself  and  the 
state. 

"It  is  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  the  gods  to  see  man  strive  for  the 
public  good,  to  one's  private  concern. 

"Beware  that  none  arise  among  you,  who,  by  fair  speeches,  prom 
ises,  and  courtesies,  stealeth  away  the  heart  of  the  multitude— against 
its  own  welfare. 

"Equal  education  demands  equality  of  station. 

"Where  all  work,  festal  days  may  be  many. 

"In  conclusion,  let  me  say,  let  us  form  a  government  the  praises 
of  which  poets  will  delight  to  sing,  and  philosophers  will  love  to 
ponder  over.  Fellow  Athenians,  many  moons  after  we  have  suc 
cessfully  fashioned  our  nation  of  Athonia,  may  some  sculptor  step 
forth  from  among  us  and  rear  a  statue  in  its  honor  whose  every  state- 
liness,  pose,  feature  and  mien  expresses  the  highest  nobility  of  the 
human  race."  (Applause.) 

Maniotus  spoke  after  Hypnothoon,  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians, 
we  have  been  without  laws  too  long.  It  is  high  time  that  we  have 
agreed  understandings  which  can  be  enforced  by  authoritative  law.  I 
have  held  the  position  of  sandal-maker  of  our  community.  At  first 
work  was  a  pleasure,  but  as  the  moons  went  on  I  again  and  again,  on 
looking  up  from  my  labor,  saw  the  number  who  were  wearing  out  my 
sandals,  by  running  or  walking  around,  without  doing  any  labor  what 
ever,  grow  in  number ;  and  it  is  high  time  that  actions  are  taken  this 
day  to  form  laws  for  Athonia,  or  I  would  also  have  ceased  my  work 
of  making  sandals  for  our  citizens  of  Athonia.  In  such  an  event  we, 
in  a  short  time,  would  all  go  on  bare  feet,  and  also  a  general  bareness 
of  body  and  emptiness  of  stomach  would  soon  follow.  Fellow  Athe 
nians,  Hypnothoon  and  many  others  have  spoken  so  forcibly  and 
plainly  on  the  laws  of  justice  and  equality,  that  it  is  not  necessary  to 
add  thereto." 

After  several  other  citizens  had  spoken,  Boutonious  said:  "Fellow 
Athenians,  the  laws  suggested  by  Hypnothoon  are  based  on  equal 
justice  for  all  Athenians,  including  the  ladies  of  Athonia.  (Applause 
by  the  ladies.)  It  includes  what  our  noble  ladies  so  greatly  desire — 
yes,  demand,  namely :  women's  rights,  as  they  call  it.  Our  ladies  are 


Strict  Equality  Laws  425 

our  fellow  graduates,  and  it  is  no  more  than  right  that  our  laws  should 
include  women's  rights.  They  are  beyond  comparison  with  the  women 
of  all  the  world,  not  only  in  appearance  and  beauty  of  form,  but  in  the 
high  intellectual  endowments.  Such  being  the  understood  facts,  we 
cannot  hope,  nor  can  we  wish,  to  exclude  them  from  equal  recognition 
by  our  laws  in  every  particular  equal  with  us  men.  (Applause  by  the 
ladies.)  I  do  not  wish  in  a  public  address  to  expose  my  strong  leaning 
towards  women.  I  shall  not  give  full  expression  to  my  deep  admiration 
for  women,  but  I  cannot  help  asking,  if  there  were  no  women,  would 
life  be  worth  living?  Men's  highest  efforts  and  grandest  victories  in 
peace  and  war  were  brought  forth  and  made  possible  through  deep 
admiration  and  love  for  noble  women.  Nations  have  warred  for  beau 
tiful  Helen;  but  I  will  not  take  up  the  balance  of  this  day,  and  will 
with  the  ladies  say,  'Hail,  women's  rights !' "  (Applause  by  the 
ladies.) 

After  most  all  women  and  men  citizens  had  expressed  their  opinions 
in  regard  to  the  questions  of  the  day,  Sophon  arose  and  said :  "Fellow 
Athenians,  I  believe  I  can  say  that  the  question  of  laws  for  Athonia 
has  been  thoroughly  discussed  by  all  of  us,  and  our  opinions  seem  to 
run  along  the  same  line,  namely :  that  our  laws  should  be  based  on 
the  proposition  that  man  to  man  is  brother,  and  that  perfect  equality, 
regardless  of  sex,  shall  be  the  foundation  principle  of  our  Athenian 
laws.  We  all  know,  if  one  feels  in  a  disputing  mood,  the  best  of  things 
can  be  criticised.  But  I  will  not  criticise,  but  will  agree  with  all  the 
rest  of  us,  that  the  proposition  and  foundation  principle  of  our  Atho- 
nian  laws  as  proposed  should  prevail.  Hypnothoon,  in  his  suggestions, 
has  construed  the  laws  quite  fully  and  plainly  in  conformity  with  the 
general  opinions  expressed.  Therefore,  fellow  Athenians,  I  take  the 
liberty  to  propose  that  we  vote  on  the  acceptance  or  non-acceptance 
of  the  laws  as  suggested  by  Hypnothoon  in  his  address." 

"Vote!    Vote!"   shouted  all. 

Sophon  continued:  "Let  all  who  are  for  the  adoption  of  the  laws 
as  proposed  by  Hypnothoon  drop  a  mahogany  leaf  into  this  jar,  and 
all  who  are  opposed  drop  in  a  palm  leaf." 

The  citizen  selected  to  announce  the  result  said  in  a  loud  voice: 
"The  jar  contains  three  palm  leaves  and  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven  mahogany  leaves."  (Applause.) 

Sophon  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  three  citizens  voted  in  opposi 
tion  and  the  balance  in  favor  of  the  adoption.  Therefore,  the  laws 
voted  on  stand  adopted  as  the  laws  of  Athonia,  and  from  this  day  on 
we  have  our  being  under  laws  of  our  own  making.  May  we  all  re 
member  and  observe  and  live  in  harmony  with  our  laws,  to  the  welfare 
of  us  each  individually,  and  our  nation  of  Athonia  as  a  whole."  (Ap 
plause.) 


426  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Those  who  spoke  after  Sophon  included  Monumentalis.  He  said: 
"Fellow  law-makers:  Our  laws  adopted  so  far  refer  to  strict 
equality  among  the  living,  but  not  in  regard  to  strict  equality  among 
the  dead.  I,  in  common  with  others,  hold  that  our  laws  should  include 
strict  equality  for  the  dead  also.  That  would  make  the  foundation 
principle  of  our  laws  complete.  If  monuments  are  erected,  all  should 
be  strictly  equal,  excepting  names.  No  superior  shaft  should  stand 
forth  to  coming  generations,  denoting  superior  excellencies  among  the 
living  of  his  day.  The  intent  of  our  new  law  is  that  even  such  as 
have  superior  gifts  given  them  by  the  gods  shall  use  such  gifts  for 
not  only  themselves,  but  for  the  good  of  the  state  also,  and  that  the 
sign  of  equality  shall  remain  and  prevail  among  all  citizens  of  Athonia. 
"We  may  recall  one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers'  lectures,  saying: 
'The  king  of  an  Oriental  nation,  once  upon  a  time,  while  walking 
leisurely  through  a  cemetery,  paused  and  stood  before  a  rich,  highly 
polished,  skillfully  ornamented  tall  shaft  of  porphyry,  wondering 
whom  of  his  subjects  was  honored  with  such  a  tall,  magnificent  monu 
ment.  Upon  closer  observation  he  noticed  a  card  of  parchment  tied 
with  a  frail  cord,  in  a  careless  manner,  to  the  monument.  It  read  as 
follows : 

Monuments  that  pierce  the  sky, 
Built  of  richest  porphyry, 
Never  can  the  least  atone 
For  the  wrong  that  he  has  done. 

"The  king  said,  musing  thoughtfully :  'It  seems  in  many  cases  mon 
uments  that  pierce  the  sky,  and  otherwise  magnificent,  are  erected  to 
deceive  the  living,  unto  endless  aeons.'  He  ordered  investigations  to 
be  made  of  all  imposing  monuments  in  his  kingdom,  and  later  said : 
'There  are  too  many  monuments  being  erected  in  my  kingdom  for 
imaginary,  magnified  deeds  of  valor,  and  also  to  such  who  wish  to 
deceive  and  hide  their  misdeeds,  or  who  could  not  shine  among  the 
living.' 

"He  ordered  the  large  majority  of  the  imposing  monuments  to  be 
used  as  a  foundation  stone  for  public  temples  away  from  human  eyes. 

"I  have  said  enough  on  the  subject,  fellow  Athenians,  and  I,  in 
accordance  with  the  request  of  many  of  our  citizens,  propose  that 
equality  shall  extend  to  matters  respecting  each  citizen  after  death 
also." 

After  several  other  citizens  had  spoken  in  the  same  vein,  Energetes 
said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  it  seems  that  we  should  only  consider  living 
questions,  and  not  dead  questions." 

Theon  arose  and  said :  :  "Fellow  Athenians,  I  was  one  of  the 
three  who  cast  a  palm  leaf,  but  as  strict  equality  has  been  adopted 


Strict  Equality  Laws  427 

as  the  foundation  principle  of  our  laws,  it  ought,  in  order  to  be  com 
plete,  include  matters  pertaining  to  the  dead  also." 

Sophon  arose  and  brought  the  matter  to  a  vote.  The  result  showed 
two  palm  leaves  against  and  three  hundred  and  ninety-eight  mahogany 
leaves  for  the  adoption  of  laws  including  equality  of  the  living  and 
dead. 

Philnostrus  spoke  up  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  we  well  bear 
in  mind  that  Cassandra,  now  noble  wife  of  Meander,  predicted  that 
neither  our  grand  ship  nor  any  of  our  voyagers  would  ever  return  or 
see  Athens  again.  Her  prediction  proved  true.  It  would  be  well  if 
noble  Cassandra  would  predict  what  effect  the  laws  that  we  have 
adopted  will  have  of  evil  or  good  as  to  the  future  of  Athonia."  (Ap 
plause.) 

Cassandra,  wife  of  Meander,  amidst  applause,  stepped  on  the  ele 
vated  stone  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  I  will  make  no  more  pre 
dictions,  nor  do  I  claim  that  I  am  gifted  with  the  power  of  prophecy, 
as  I  do  not  wish  to  be  looked  upon  as  being  different  from  the  rest 
of  us.  In  that  respect  I  long  to  be  equal  with  all  the  rest  of  us. 
Our  laws  are  based  on  the  theory  that  the  unequal  should  share 
equally.  There  are  many  things  that  we  all  can  know  in  advance  with 
out  being  gifted  with  the  power  of  prophecy,  but  under  all  and  every 
condition  I  have  and  always  shall  bear  my  part  cheerfully,  faithfully 
and  willingly.  To  that  let  the  past  attest."  (Applause.) 

Theseus  spoke  up  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  I  believe  it  is 
in  vain  to  try  to  find  out  what  the  future  holds  in  store  for  us;  but 
let  us  courageously  do  our  full  duty  each  day  for  the  welfare  of 
Athonia,  and  when  we  arrive  at  what  to  us  is  now  the  future,  I  pre 
dict  all  will  be  well.  (Applause.)  Fellow  Athenians,  we  are  now 
anxious  to  select  members  of  our  community  to  hold  the  various  public 
positions  as  adopted  by  our  laws.  In  common  with  the  wish  of  the 
majority  of  our  citizens,  I  believe,  I  propose,  in  harmony  with  strict 
equality  as  to  chance,  that  all  public  servants  shall  be  selected  by  lot. 
It  has  also  been  suggested,  and  I  now  further  propose  the  same,  that 
cards  numbering  from  one  to  four  hundred,  of  white  birch  bark,  be 
distributed  among  us  Athenians,  and  that  a  duplicate  be  placed  in  the 
urn  upon  voting.  Those  bearing  the  names  which  are  drawn  blind 
folded  shall  announce  the  positions  to  be  held  by  the  names  drawn, 
beginning  with  the  so-called  highest  public  servant  first." 

The  manner  of  choosing  public  servants  by  lot  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

Scriborites:  The  selection  of  public  servants  by  lot  concluded,  I 
find  that  I  have  been  drawn  to  teach  the  boys  and  girls  of  Athonia  the 
art  of  inscribing,  writing  and  history.  The  ship's  parchment  roll  record 
is  kept  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus  in  a  strong  ark  under  my  care.  What- 


428  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

ever  records  I  inscribe  at  my  leisure,  as  the  spirit  moves  me,  I  shall 
place  within  the  ark  also." 

Pindarus  spoke  up  and  said:  "Fellow  law-makers,  in  a  nation 
where  all  labor  in  conformity  with  natural  justice,  where  hardest  work 
has  shortest  hours,  and  so  on,  in  seven  degrees  of  time;  to  the  easiest 
work,  longest  number  of  hours ;  where  all  possess  equal,  all  have 
equal  chance  by  lot,  at  every  seventh  moon,  to  hold  positions  of  honor ; 
where  all  are  clad  in  the  same  fashion  and  color  of  raiment — in  short, 
where  all  are  in  every  respect  strictly  equal,  even  the  dead,  truly  in 
such  a  sublime  city  or  nation,  no  citizen,  living  or  dead,  has  a  right 
to  complain,  feel  dissatisfied  or  find  fault  with  any  of  their  fellow 
men  or  with  the  city's  or  nation's  social  status.  Fellow  citizens,  such 
we  can  now  say  is  our  Athonia,  a  nation  that  stands  on  a  higher  plane 
of  human  justice  than  philosopher,  bard  or  poet  ever  dared  dream  of. 
May,  O  ye  Olympian  gods,  we  pray,  our  nation  and  its  sublime  laws 
of  strict  equality  among  the  living  and  the  dead,  live  unto  aeons  and 
aeons  of  time."  (Great  applause.) 

Marstenes,  who  was  military  commander  on  our  ship,  and  also  of 
our  marching  column  until  this  day,  arose  and  said:  "Fellow  Athe 
nians,  the  work  of  forming  the  laws  for  Athonia  has  been  harmo 
niously  completed.  Phoebus  will  soon  descend  down  the  west  abyss 
of  the  world.  It  has  been  thought  to  conclude  this  festal  day  with 
a  parade,  which  I  now  do  propose.  Our  laws  are  based  on  strict  equality 
in  all  matters,  including  games,  contests  and  parades.  Such  as  are  to 
take  the  position  of  command  must  be  selected  by  lot.  I  have  dis 
carded,  thrown  away,  totally  destroyed  my  insignia  of  command,  and 
stand  in  appearance  equal  with  all." 

A  vote  was  taken,  and  as  there  were  over  seven-ninths  of  the  total 
vote  cast  in  favor  of  holding  a  parade,  a  parade  was  agreed  to. 

Militos,  public  scribe,  announced  that  Corina,  wife  of  Amondes,  had 
been  drawn  by  lot  for  the  term  of  seven  moons  as  commander  of  the 
military  forces  of  Athonia.  (Great  applause  followed.) 

Marstenes  immediately  congratulated  Corina,  which  congratulation 
was  followed  with  a  rush  by  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  Athenians.  She 
accepted  the  congratulations  in  a  self-composed,  matter-of-fact  way. 
Corina's  commands,  which  rang  out  in  a  clear,  sweet,  strong  voice, 
soon  had  the  couples  formed  into  double  lines,  in  precise  military  order. 
She  ordered  that  one  of  the  Athonians'  small,  bright  rainbow  flags  be 
carried  in  the  parade,  selecting  Marstenes  as  flag  bearer.  The  march 
proceeded  on  the  broad,  plaza-like  way,  flanked  each  side,  at  wide 
intervals  by  our  houses  leading  up  to  the  Temple  of  Zeus.  Here 
Corina  commanded  all  to  proceed  into  the  temple  to  don  armor  and 
helmets,  all  excepting  the  musicians  to  bear  shields  and  lances. 

By   command  of  Corina,  all  were  in  military  order  again.     With 


Strict  Equality  Laws  429 

music  and  rainbow  flags  in  first  rank,  the  women  and  men  warriors 
marched  forth  in  proud,  glittering  array,  as  if  going  to  battle.  Corina's 
commands  were  followed  by  intricate  military  movements,  dividing  the 
warriors  into  many  separate  divisions,  forming  them  back  into  close 
ranks  again,  swinging  long  columns  in  a  most  graceful  manner,  and 
other  complicated  maneuvers,  too  many  to  note  on  parchment. 

Standing  within  the  large  square,  which  had  been  formed  under 
her  command,  she  said:  "Fellow  warriors,  one  of  the  most  difficult 
maneuvers  in  times  of  battle  is  to  inclose  and  surround  the  enemy 
within  a  square.  But  you  see  how  easy  it  can  be  done  if— if  it  is  not 
too  strenuously  objected  to  by  the  enemy."  (Applause  by  all.) 

She  continued:  "If  there  were  an  enemy  within  this  square,  we 
would  give  him  a  square  deal,  so  that  not  one  of  them  would  ever 
complain  of  things  on  earth  again,  for  we  would  dispatch  them  all  to 
the  dark  shades  below.  (Loud  applause.)  Soldiers!"  she  said,  "you 
are  not  to  applaud;  you  are  to  obey  and  do  and  dare  in  silence." 

Corina's  sweet,  clear  command  formed  all  couples  into  proper  posi 
tion,  and  to  the  strains  of  beautiful  music  she  commanded  movements 
of  our  famous  Grecian  Amazon  lanciers'  dance,  which  contains  very 
many  graceful  salutes  and  posing  of  shields  and  lances,  as  well  as 
graceful  forward,  backward  and  side  steps.  The  lanciers'  dance  was 
greatly  enjoyed  by  all.  Corina's  command  formed  all  into  marching 
order  again,  upon  which,  running  at  great  speed,  with  a  sudden  order 
to  halt,  was  practiced.  Corina  seemed  determined  on  running  maneu 
vers  to  good  distances  and  return. 

On  arriving  in  front  of  the  Temple  of  Zeus  again,  Corina  said: 
"Warriors,  we  are  now  standing  in  a  long  single  line,  facing  the  bright 
heart  of  the  world,  Phoebus,  who  is  just  getting  ready  to  descend 
down  the  west  abyss  of  the  world.  Warriors,  we  bow  not  in  obeisance 
to  any  man  or  nation  of  men,  excepting  to  our  gods  and  to  Phoebus; 
and  as  I  raise  my  sword,  let  all  in  unison  bow  three  times  to  Phoebus, 
each  time  striking  his  shield  with  a  lance,  with  thanks  in  our  hearts 
that  we  are  permitted  to  live  and  behold  the  beauties  of  the  world 
which  are  disclosed  and  brought  to  light  by  his  life-giving  rays." 

All  warriors  were  greatly  affected  and  bowed  in  unison  toward  the 
sun. 

Corina  continued:  "Warriors!  Phoebus  has  fulfilled  this  day's 
task,  and  so  have  we,  noble  warriors.  The  Fates  through  lot  have 
decreed  that  I  shall  hold  the  position  of  commander  for  the  length  of 
seven  moons.  We  need  no  walls  around  our  city,  for  there  live  no 
other  people  in  our  great  new  land.  But  it  is  well,  in  our  military 
matters,  to  strongly  imagine  an  enemy,  so  as  to  preserve  the  true 
noble  spirit  of  war,  and  thus  retain  the  heroic  spirit  of  our  Grecian 
forefathers.  A  true  war  spirit  ennobles  the  true  man  and  woman. 


430  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Warriors,  you  may  at  any  time  be  commanded  forth,  night  or  day, 
just  as  if  there  were  an  enemy  in  sight ;  for  in  this  manner  only  can 
we  remain  expert  warriors — the  noblest  sphere  of  courageous  man  or 
woman.  Warriors,  the  day  is  done." 

All  proceeded  to  the  temple  to  deposit  armor,  helmet,  shield  and 
lance.  Thus  closed  the  festal  day. 

Corina's  success  as  commander  was  favorably  commented  upon. 

Some  said:  "This  is  a  practical  object  lesson,  demonstrating  the 
power  of  responsibility  when  placed  on  such  who  hithertofore  had 
never  had  an  opportunity  to  become  aware  of  even  their  own  latent 
abilities." 

Others  said:  "There  is  an  old  saying  that  'All  excepting  the 
helmsman  know  how  to  steer  the  ship  of  state,  and  when  another 
helmsman  is  chosen,  it  is  the  same.' " 

Another  Athenian  said:  "Corina's  melodious  voice  of  command, 
like  stirring  music,  has  the  power  of  inspiring  warriors  with  courage 
of  the  highest  order.  On  hearing  her  sweet,  melodious  command, 
'Warriors,  forward!  forward!  storm  the  catapult!'  all  would  certainly, 
irresistibly  rush  forward  to  victory  or  death;  for  where  would  there 
be  a  warrior  who  would  not  rush  thus  forward  at  the  command  of  a 
beautiful  woman's  lovely  voice?" 

Much  more  could  I  have  recorded  of  matters  concerning  this  festal 
day,  but  I  only  record  as  my  inclination  prompts  me.  It  will  be  many 
moons — yes,  a  long  interval  of  time  will  have  passed — before  I  again 
add  anything  to  the  record  scrolls.  Equality, — under  this  foundation 
principle  we  all  must  henceforth  fulfill  our  duty  to  ourselves  and  to 
Athonia  as  a  whole. 

Scriborites:  It  is  now  many,  many  moons  since  I  placed  the  last 
record  scroll  in  the  ark  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus.  This  day,  a  festal  day 
again,  I  again  take  forth  a  scroll  and  will  proceed  to  record  some  of 
the  events  that  have  come  to  pass  since  depositing  the  last  records.  A 
long  interval  of  time  has  elapsed  since  writing  the  last  record.  In  this 
hot  climate  the  events  which  I  may  record  will  only  be  meager  and 
quite  incomplete.  Energy  and  endurance,  enthusiasm  for  anything 
that  needs  attention  or  concentration  of  mind,  or  work,  plainly  does 
not  harmonize  with  this  hot  country  to  which  the  Fates  have  wafted 
us. 

Our  boys  and  girls  are  all  of  a  fine,  noble,  true,  manlike  and  woman 
like  mold,  and  will,  beyond  all  doubt,  in  beauty,  stateliness  and  courage, 
be  equal  to  their  parents.  Under  the  conditions  under  which  we  find 
ourselves  in  this  great  unknown,  distant,  torrid  land,  it  is  impossible 
for  our  boys  and  girls  to  attain  the  high  standard  of  strength,  dex 
terity  and  universal  knowledge  of  their  parents,  who  were  developed 
under  far  more  favorable  conditions,  and  in  a  country  where  the  air 


Athonias  Girls  and  Boys  431 

gives  the  stamina  and  enthusiasm  necessary  for  all  mental  and  bodily 
exertion.  In  Athens  the  air  was  exhilarating,  but  here  the  intense 
heat  at  all  times  of  the  year  is  very  enervating. 

And  as  to  our  boys  and  girls,  they  are  in  great  danger  of  growing 
up  in  a  somewhat  rank  manner,  in  harmony  with  the  plants  of  this 
hottest  of  hot  lands.  The  boys  and  girls  are,  taking  the  climate  into 
consideration,  anxious  to  receive  knowledge.  Especially  interested  are 
they  in  the  stories  rehearsed  to  them  of  Athens  and  Greece,  the  land 
of  their  grandfathers,  from  which  we  were  wafted  to  this  land. 

Up  to  this  time  the  boys  and  girls  are  about  equal  in  number. 

The  high  responsibility  placed  upon  me  as  their  teacher,  I  am  fully 
conscious  of.  They  greatly  delight  to  go  into  the  woods  with  bows 
and  spears  to  hunt  the  various  wild  animals,  and  it  requires  my 
greatest  effort  to  keep  them  out  of  the  woods,  and  to  teach  them  of 
Minerva,  who  gave  wisdom  unto  our  forefathers,  and  thus  brought 
them  out  of  the  woods,  to  build  beautiful  cities  with  wonderful  works 
of  art,  and  other  refining  influences. 

After  listening  to  the  description  I  gave  them  of  the  large  ship  in 
which  we  were  wafted  to  these  distant  shores,  many  of  the  boys 
went  to  the  ocean  shore  and  constructed  small  boats,  which  they  with 
oars  managed  in  a  seamanship  manner.  While  visiting  the  seashore, 
with  all  of  our  boys  and  girls,  I  showed  them  the  place  where  our 
great  ship  ran  on  the  land  in  the  dense  fog,  instead  of  sailing  over 
the  end  of  the  world,  as  was  planned  by  some  conspirators  of  our 
ship.  I  pointed  over  the  ocean  in  the  direction  from  which  our  ship 
came,  and  many  shouted  as  if  with  one  breath:  "Let's  row  over 
there  with  our  boats!" 

I  explained  to  them  the  endless  distance  and  the  ocean's  high,  rag 
ing  billows  and  sea  monsters,  and  made  it  plain  to  them  that  Athens, 
the  noble  city  of  their  grandfathers  and  grandmothers,  would  ever 
remain  beyond  their  reach.  I  explained  to  them  that  the  building  of 
the  great  Aeolus  was  only  made  possible  by  the  assistance  of  the  gods. 

They  asked,  "May  not  the  gods  assist  us  when  we  are  men  and 
women  to  build  such  a  large  ship,  so  we  can  sail  across  to  Athens?" 

I  said,  "No,  I  believe  not."  I  explained  to  them,  even  if  we  had 
such  a  ship,  we  did  not  feel  sure  of  finding  Athens  again,  for  we 
sailed  many,  many  moons  in  dense  fog  and  could  not  tell  in  which 
direction  our  great  ship  was  sailing.  I  told  them  that  all  we  know 
is  that  we  are  here;  but  that  we  don't  know  where  we  are.  I  told 
them  it  was  the  wish  of  the  gods  that  we  are  here;  and  also  that  the 
gods  desired  us  and  them  unto  endless  generations  to  build  up  a  great 
Grecian  nation  here.  So  much  for  our  boys  and  girls. 

Since  the  last  records  were  written,  the  greater  time  may  be  re 
corded  as  having  been  a  period  of  intense  disputes,  dissatisfaction 


432  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

and  quarrels,  in  many  cases  almost  unto  death.  Under  our  laws  of 
strict  equality  in  all  things,  we  thought  it  would  be  impossible  for  any 
citizen  to  complain  or  find  fault.  But  soon  we  found  that  we  were 
mistaken. 

The  first  excitement  was  caused  by  a  lady  displaying  an  extra 
feather  on  her  hair.  It  was  torn  off  ruthlessly  by  another  lady,  as  it 
was  breaking  the  laws  of  strict  equality.  Several  citizens  started  to 
make  slight  improvement  and  changes  in  their  houses.  This  also  was 
breaking  the  law  of  strict  equality,  and  was  with  a  riot-like  uproar 
forbidden.  One  citizen  pinned  his  mantle  to  one  side  in  an  unaccus 
tomed  manner.  That  was  breaking  the  laws  of  strict  equality.  He 
wanted  to  appear  more  distinguished  than  others.  A  few  painted 
their  spears  and  arrows.  That  was  against  the  laws  of  strict  equality 
and  was  forbidden.  The  raiment  of  one  of  the  children  was  of  a 
brighter  hue  than  the  others.  That  was  forbidden.  A  great  riot  oc 
curred  among  the  women  when  it  was  seen  that  a  few  of  the  children 
wore  extra  bright  sashes  around  their  waists.  That,  'midst  great 
excitement,  was  forbidden.  One  of  the  citizens  had  found  a  beautiful 
indigenous  flower,  which  he  planted  in  rows  on  each  side  of  his  house. 
That  was  forbidden.  He  was  trying  to  outshine  others. 

One  of  our  Grecian  philosophers  once  said:  "The  best  manner  of 
putting  a  poor  law  out  of  existence  is  to  enforce  it."  And  this,  it 
seems,  will  be  the  case  with  our  much  vaunted  strict  equality  laws. 

Several  scrolls  would  it  require  to  inscribe  the  great  dissatisfac 
tion  and  endless  quarreling  caused  by  our  strict  equality  law.  The 
equal  sharing  of  the  product  of  all  combined,  also,  is  not  satisfactory 
to  many,  who  believe  that  others  are  getting  a  greater  share  than 
they  are  entitled  to. 

That  the  diligence  of  our  citizens  is  growing  less  and  less  seems 
to  be  beyond  dispute.  Each  seems  to  feel  that  he  is  doing  more  than 
his  just  share  of  work;  therefore  slowness  is  becoming  a  habit.  It 
has  become  quite  obvious  to  all  Athenians  that  the  present  affairs  in 
regard  to  strict  equality  cannot  long  exist  without  ending  in  fierce 
strife  and  bloodshed.  Therefore,  all  citizens  intend  on  this  festal 
day  to  give  expression  to  their  opinions  in  regard  to  the  present  un 
satisfactory  Athenian  condition.  Many  men  also  believe  it  is  high 
time  to  do  away  with  strict  equality  for  women.  They  say  that  the 
women  neglect  the  duties  which  the  gods  intended  should  occupy  their 
attention.  Instead,  it  is  claimed,  of  giving  their  time  to  the  rearing 
of  model  men  and  women,  and  attending  to  household  matters,  they 
use  the  greater  part  of  their  time  attending  and  interesting  them 
selves  in  regard  to  matters  belonging  to  the  province  of  men  only. 
Disputes  in  regard  to  popular  questions  between  man  and  wife  often 
lead  to  estrangement  and  enmity.  This  is  a  matter  of  common  daily 


Strict  Equality  Laws  433 

occurrence.  The  men  argue  that  men  must  live  strenuous  lives,  their 
lives  being  a  sort  of  battle  amongst  men,  even  in  times  of  peace;  and 
there  ought  to  be  at  least  one  place  where  strife  and  dispute  in  regard 
to  public  affairs  should  cease,  and  that  place  should  be  the  home. 

The  citizens  are  now,  with  music  and  rainbow  flags,  marching  to 
the  Temple  of  Zeus.  All  are  now  assembled  in  the  temple.  Orato, 
with  incense  arising  at  his  side,  invoked  the  blessings  of  the  gods  on 
the  assembly.  All  who  wish  to  speak  on  public  matters  are  to  do  so 
from  the  rostrum  to  the  left  of  the  altar.  There  will  be  no  end  to  the 
expression  of  opinions.  I  shall,  however,  only  record  one  or  two  of 
the  many  orations,  as  my  inclinations  may  prompt  me. 

Natholia,  wife  of  Mercerous,  was  the  first  to  speak. 

She  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  it  has  come  to  our  ears  that  efforts 
will  be  made  at  this  festal  day  to  take  away  our  women's  rights,  for 
which  we  have  so  long  striven.  We  wish  it  understood,  at  the  start, 
that  we  will  never  submit  to  such  unjust,  unmanlike  outrage.  This 
is  all  at  present,  as  I  only  give  a  warning!"  (Applause  by  women.) 

Rotundio  arose  quickly  and  said:  "Noble  Natholia,  and  noble  ladies 
all:  I  wish  to  ask  you  a  question:  Are  you  all  really  in  favor  of 
women's  rights,  and  is  that  what  you  want?" 

Like  a  musical  storm  the  answer  came,  "Yes !  Yes !  Women's  rights ! 
Women's  rights!  Women's  rights!" 

Rotundio  proceeded:  "Noble  Natholia,  noble  ladies  all:  You  have 
expressed  your  wish  plainly.  You  want  women's  rights,  and  I,  as  a 
man,  will  guarantee  that  you  shall  not  lose  your  sacred  women's 
rights;  and  I  can  say  that  as  long  as  a  true  Grecian  has  strength  left 
to  protect  women  from  harm,  he  will  unto  death  see  to  it  that  women's 
rights  shall  never  be  wrested  from  our  noble  women."  (Great  ap 
plause  from  men  and  women.) 

Scriborites :  Many  seemed  to  think  that  that  question  was  settled. 
Many  have  spoken,  all  expressing  their  dissatisfaction  with  the  strict 
equality  laws  of  Athonia. 

Archipodes  is  ascending  the  rostrum.     I  shall  record  what  he  says: 

Archipodes  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  we  all  remember  that,  while 
in  Athens,  one  of  our  philosophers,  who  lectured  on  sincerity,  said: 
'One  is  generally  willing  to  listen  to  one  who  is  intensely  sincere  in 
what  he  advocates  for  the  public  good.'  For,  in  the  opinion  of  such 
speaker,  he  is  speaking  the  truth,  and  thus  wishes  to  instruct.  Even 
a  thoroughly  sincere  but  commonplace  speaker  often  moves  his  audi 
ence.  But  when  a  higher  gifted  speaker  is  sincere,  he  is  a  great  power 
for  good. 

"But  if  he  is  in  error,  he  may  at  times  be  a  dangerous  citizen  and 
a  great  power  for  evil.  There  are  martyrs  who  die  in  error,  as  well 
as  such  who  die  for  the  truth. 


434  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Fellow  Athenians,  I  have  not  arrived  at  the  point  as  quickly  as 
I  first  intended.  We  well  remember  that  moons  ago,  when  at  a 
festal  day  laws  were  formed  for  Athonia,  that  they  were  based  on  the 
proposition  that  man  to  man  is  brother,  and  also  on  the  principle  of 
strict  equality  for  all.  Those  laws  were  mostly  formed  by  noble 
Hypnothoon,  who,  on  account  of  his  deep  sincerity  and  ability  as  a 
forceful  speaker,  hypnotized  us  all,  as  it  were,  and  we  accepted  his 
bad  as  well  as  his  good  suggestions. 

"The  strict  equality  principle,  as  honorable  Hypnothoon  himself 
admits,  has  caused  a  great  deal  of  endless  strife;  and  as  to  women's 
rights,  he  also  has  changed  his  opinion.  Therefore,  I  only  wish  to 
sound  a  sort  of  warning  that  highly  gifted  and  sincere  speakers  ought, 
in  a  certain  sense,  be  looked  upon  as  liable  to  be  dangerous  to  the 
public  good,  for  their  enthusiasm  for  the  good  may  lead  them  beyond 
the  bounds  of  truth  into  the  regions  of  error.  This  is  not  a  reflection 
against  Hypnothoon,  for  we  know  he  considers  himself  but  human, 
and  we  all  acknowledge  his  past,  present  and  future  high  usefulness 
for  Athonia."  (Applause.) 

Scriborites :  Many  others  have  spoken  along  the  same  lines, 
namely,  that  they  want  freedom,  liberty,  to  do  as  they  desire  in  many 
matters  which  by  a  strict  equality  law  are  forbidden. 

Undine,  wife  of  Sophon,  said  in  short:  "Fellow  Athenians, 
I  have  been  chosen  to  publicly  ask  noble  Hypnothoon  whether  he  is 
against  woman's  rights." 

Hypnothoon  replied:  "Noble  Undine,  I  wish  you  and  all  the  noble 
ladies  to  understand  me  rightly.  My  answer  is,  strictly  speaking,  I 
am  not  against  women's  rights."  (Great  applause  by  the  women.) 

Scriborites :  The  general  opinion  expressed  by  a  large  number  of 
men  and  women  speakers  agree  that  they  all  want  more  freedom ;  don't 
want  to  be  kept  down  to  one  strict  level  by  the  strict  equality  laws. 
The  land,  and  even  the  sea,  was  not  built  on  one  straight,  equal  line; 
for  mountain  peaks  and  the  wave  crests  break  up  the  dead  level  line; 
and  so  seemed  the  general  desire  expressed. 

Geothorides  is  ascending  the  rostrum.  He  will  be,  I  think,  the  last 
speaker  whose  opinions  I  will  record.  Geothorides  said: 

"Fellow  Athenians,  in  a  company  of  us  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who 
happened  to  meet  a  short  time  ago,  the  topic  of  conversation  turned 
upon  questions  on  which  we  are  to  deliberate  here  at  the  present  time. 
Each  one  of  the  company  gave  his  or  her  opinion  freely,  and  after 
very  little  disputing  we  all  came  to  agree  quite  harmoniously.  Seeing 
that  all  were  quite  of  one  opinion,  it  was  thought  unnecessary  that 
each  one  of  that  company  should  speak  here  at  this  time.  One  of  the 
number  proposed  that  only  one  should  speak  for  all ;  and  thus  I  repre 
sent  the  crowd.  And  it  was  further  agreed  that  such  a  one  should 


Racalling  Past  Events  435 

be  selected  by  lot.  And  so,  fellow  Athenians,  you  see,  I  am  not  speak 
ing  here  by  choice,  but  by  the  decree  of  the  Fates,  and  whatever  I  may 
say  will,  therefore,  not  be  my  own  opinion  only,  but  also  the  opinion 
of  the  whole.  I  wish  to  say,  if  in  any  of  my  remarks  I  seem  to  clash 
with  any  of  our  opinions  as  expressed,  please  object  and  call  my 
attention  to  it,  so  my  remarks  will  agree  with  the  opinions  expressed 
by  our  crowd  whom  I  represent. 

"Fellow  Four  Hundred!  From  the  time,  moons  and  moons  ago, 
when  our  great  ship  sailed  out  and  beyond  the  Straits  and  Pillars  of 
Hercules,  our  ship's  laws  fell  into  desuetude,  for  the  ship's  laws  were 
designed  to  remain  only  in  force  during  its  voyage  from  Athens  to  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules  and  return  to  Athens.  In  allowing  ourselves  to 
be  deluded  by  the  arch-conspirators,  Poly  bus,  Captain  Arteus  and 
others  of  our  ship,  to  sail  out  against  the  ship's  Athenian  orders,  be 
yond  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  into  the  vast  western  ocean,  our  ship's 
laws  became  void.  Feeling  certain  that  we  would  never  see  Athens 
again,  and  on  account  of  the  powerful  seas  that  each  day  would  be 
our  last,  Venus  and  her  small  messenger  Cupid  were  allowed  to  de 
scend  on  our  ship  and  mingle  freely  among  us.  Their  presence  on 
the  ship  so  far  had  been  forbidden.  The  fair  goddess  and  her  mes 
sengers  soon  brought  us  all  in  close  touch  with  each  other.  The  dia 
bolical  designs  of  Polybus,  Captain  Arteus  and  others,  who  may  be 
still  in  quest  of  the  end  of  the  world — and  we  hope  they  have  all 
arrived  there  and  plunged  over  down  into  the  abyss  of  destruction — 
were  happily  frustrated  by  the  gods,  who  covered  the  sea  with  a  dense, 
impenerable  fog,  guiding  the  arms  of  our  helmsman  so  as  to  sail  our 
great  ship  on  this  great  unknown  land.  After  transferring  all  there 
was  portable  of  the  great  ship  to  this  plateau,  seven  miles  from  the 
sea,  we  set  to  work  and  erected  this  Temple  of  Zeus.  Next  we  erected 
the  treasure  house,  and  then  a  dwelling  for  each  one  of  us  in  succes 
sion,  by  lot.  From  the  beginning,  and  for  a  long  time  also,  too  long, 
our  city  of  Athonia  proceeded  without  laws.  We  each  and  all  felt  it 
beneath  our  dignity  to  dwell  under  laws. 

"We,  the  Four  Hundred,  the  masterpieces,  par  excellence,  of  the 
human  race,  as  we  have  often  been  called,  needed  no  laws ;  for  each 
knew  right  from  wrong,  and  we  thought  it  would  be  beneath  our  dig 
nity  to  act  against  the  laws  of  noble  justice.  Laws,  we  all  felt,  would 
be  a  reflection  against  our  nobility.  We,  the  Four  Hundred,  wanted 
unrestrained  freedom,  liberty  without  bounds — liberty  in  its  fullest 
scope,  not  only  in  words,  but  in  all  our  wishes  and  actions,  unham 
pered  by  any  laws  whatever.  We  had  many  other  reasons  why  we 
did  not  want  or  need  any  laws,  and  one  was  that  laws  are  made  for 
the  protection  of  the  weak.  We  were  not  weak,  and  did  not  stand 
in  need  of  protection  or  laws. 


436  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

"Did  we  not,  while  in  Athens  at  times,  listen  to  sweet,  flowing  songs 
of  true,  unhampered  liberty,  sung  by  some  long-haired,  far-gazing  poet? 
Right  here,  I  may  remark,  not  very  poetically,  perhaps,  but  I  often 
thought  I  would  like  to  have  had  liberty  to  grab  such  long-haired  poets 
by  the  neck  and  dash  them  against  some  stone  wall,  for  often  their 
siren-like  songs  lead  to  deep  error. 

"But  again,  I  will  say,  in  regard  to  such  poets  as  have  a  practical 
turn  of  mind  and  are  rational,  such  can  be  a  powerful,  lasting  aid 
toward  the  ennobling  of  our  human  race. 

"Yes,  we  all  agreed  that  we  wanted  true,  unhampered  liberty,  as 
is  in  harmony  with  such  a  community  as  the  Four  Hundred. 

"Long  did  we  dwell  without  laws  by  closing  one  eye  against  many 
unjust  acts  that  curtailed  our  freedom  again  and  again  in  countless 
ways.  But  be  not  alarmed.  I  will  not  particularize,  for  it  would  take 
endless  time.  But  this  we  soon  realized,  that  where  one  has  the  liberty, 
freedom  to  act  as  he  pleases,  there  no  one  can  enjoy  true  freedom; 
for  their  very  unrestricted  acts  of  freedom  often  interfere  and  clash 
with  the  liberty  and  freedom  of  others,  against  the  principle  of  justice. 
It  is  plain  to  us  all  that  liberty  is  a  subtle,  sacred  thing,  which 
fleeth  if  it  hath  not  the  protection  of  law.  Where  liberty  dwells  with 
out  law,  there  order  and  justice  are  as  strangers  to  the  land.  I  will 
not  dwell  longer  on  our  lawless  regime,  for  an  epoch  that  threatened 
to  be  chaotic  is  not  pleasant  to  recall. 

"The  lawless  period  came  to  an  end  by  universal  clamoring  for 
laws.  We  well  remember  that  it  is  now  also  moons  and  moons  since 
the  laws  for  Athonia,  principally  suggested  and  proposed  by  noble 
Hypnothoon,  were  practically  unanimously  adopted.  Those  laws  were 
based  on  the  proposition  that  man  to  man  is  brother,  and  also  on  the 
fundamental  principle  of  strict  equality  in  all  things ;  in  the  possession 
of  wealth,  in  the  sharing  of  the  products  of  the  combined  labor  of 
all,  in  the  outward  and  inward  appearance  of  raiment,  homes,  and  in 
all  phases  of  life. 

Equality,  that  magic  word, 

Our  hearts  with  hope  hath  deeply  stirred. 

"That  is  what  one  of  our  fellow  citizens  said  at  the  festal  day 
on  which  our  equality  laws  were  adopted. 

"Now,  after  having  lived,  striven  and  labored  under  those  laws 
for  many,  many  moons,  we  all  seem  to  agree,  even  from  the  start 
some  detected  that  there  was  something  radically  unsatisfactory  and 
wrong  with  a  large  number  of  our  strict  equality  laws.  I  was  one  of 
those  who,  at  that  time,  voted  with  the  majority  for  their  adoption. 

"Now  many  of  us  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  those  three  who 
cast  the  palm  leaves  voting  against  adoption  were  wiser  than  the  rest 


Recalling  Past  Events  437 

of  us.  This  seems  to  prove  that  a  large,  almost  unanimous  vote  is  not 
always  on  the  side  of  truth  and  wisdom. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  a  number  of  our  citizens  have  at  various  times 
explored  our  unknown  land  for  fully  three  days  and  nights  at  a  time, 
and  we  know  that  no  other  human  eyes  ever  beheld  or  human  feet 
ever  put  their  impress  upon  this  land  before  our  advent  here. 

"This  fact  makes  us  all  feel  that  we  can  form  laws  solely  for  our 
own  purposes  without  giving  any  thought  in  regard  to  any  neighboring 
enemies;  for  there  are  none. 

"It  is  this  fact  also,  perhaps,  that  made  us  at  first  experiment  with 
no  laws,  and  also  many  moons  later  with  laws  based  on  strict  equality. 

"Citizen  Hypnothoon,  in  harmony  with  the  remarks  made  at  the 
time  by  almost  all  of  us,  also  spoke  with  deep  sincerity  in  favor  of 
strict  equality  laws.  He  admits  that  he  also  thought  that  our  isolated 
situation  allowed  us  to  experiment  in  harmony  with  some  of  the  songs 
of  our  Athenian  bards  and  long-haired,  dreamy  poets,  who  sang  so 
beautifully  and  melodiously  of  Liberty,  Freedom  and  strict  Equality. 
Hypnothoon  was  sincere;  we  were  all  sincere. 

"But  we  are  now  all  convinced  of  the  fact  that  well-meaning  sin 
cerity  is  not  always  a  guarantee  against  error;  for,  as  the  laws  of 
strict  equality  began  to  be  put  to  a  practical  test,  in  regard  to  raiment, 
dwellings  and  surroundings,  and  equal  division  of  all  things,  strong 
dissatisfaction  soon  sprang  up  in  all  directions.  Such  as  were  diligent 
in  their  labor  looked  angrily  upon  such  who  labored  very  leisurely. 
Also,  the  seven  divisions  of  time  set  for  various  kinds  of  labor  have 
always  been  found  faulty  as  to  their  not  being  rightly  proportioned.  It 
was  well  known,  and  is  an  open  secret,  that  many  have  arrived  at  per 
fection  in  the  art  of  keeping  up  the  appearance  of  work,  while  pro 
ducing  very  little.  The  setting  of  seven  divisions  of  length  of  working 
time  for  different  kinds  of  labor,  based  on  the  principle  that  the  hardest 
and  most  disagreeable  work  should  be  given  the  shortest  time,  and  so 
on ;  the  easiest  and  most  agreeable  work  the  longest  time,  is  apparently 
based  on  social  justice.  But — and  here  again  comes  in  the  word  but — 
we  know  there  are  three  kinds  of  labor.  First,  such  as  can  be  termed 
bodily  labor.  Secondly,  such  as  requires  both  bodily  labor  and  head 
work.  Thirdly,  such  as  requires  head  work  only. 

"Now,  I  must  first  repeat  what  has  already  been  said  by  a  number 
of  the  men  and  women  speakers  who  have  already  spoken.  In  view 
of  the  fact  that  our  numerous  boys  and  girls  will  soon  be  grown  up 
into  manhood  and  womanhood,  we  this  day  should  form  our  laws,  not 
to  suit  our  purpose  only,  but  should  form  laws  to  fit  and  last  for 
many  generations,  long  after  we  have  passed  to  the  shades  below. 
Therefore,  the  laws  that  we  advocate  should  be  no  reflection  against 
any  of  us  Four  Hundred.  I  will  continue  and  say  that  in  the  opinion 


438  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

of  such  (I  am  referring  to  the  far  future  only)  who  are  not  well  versed 
in  all  head  work  are  very  liable  to  entertain  the  idea  that  such  work  is 
the  easiest  of  all,  and  should  work  the  longest  time.  But  such  would 
be  in  error,  for  some  kinds  of  creative  head  work  is  the  hardest  of  hard 
labor.  Thus  the  seven  divisions  of  time  set  for  different  kinds  of  labor 
has  called  forth  fierce  disputes,  general  dissatisfaction  and  fault-finding 
endlessly.  To  rehearse  minutely  the  endless  causes  for  dissatisfaction 
with  our  present  laws,  based  on  strict  equality,  is  unnecessary,  for  they 
are  well  known  to  all  of  us ;  and  it  is  for  this  reason  that  we,  on  this 
festal  day,  have  gathered  in  this  Temple  of  Zeus  to  discuss  and  agree 
how  to  change  and  erase  the  unjust  part  of  our  present  laws  for  the 
welfare  of  each  of  us  individually  and  our  city  of  Athonia  collectively. 
(Applause.) 

"Fellow  Athenians,  let  us  again  consider  on  what  our  present  laws, 
with  which  we  are  dissatisfied,  are  based.  Firstly,  they  are  based  on 
the  proposition  that  man  to  man  is  brother.  Secondly,  on  the  funda 
mental  principle  of  strict  equality  in  all  things  endlessly.  Now,  we 
have  discovered  that  such  laws  are  unjustly  favorable  to  the  drone- 
like,  the  sluggard,  the  intemperate,  incompetent  and  weak.  Yes,  it  is 
well,  man  to  man  is  brother;  but  if  one  brother,  by  the  favor  of  the 
gods,  or  his  own  industry,  or  by  Fate  (luck),  is  superior  to  his  brother, 
has  the  inferior,  weaker  or  less  industrious,  or  such  as  the  Fates 
(luck)  have  not  favored,  or  for  other  just  cause,  is  unequal,  a  right  to 
expect  to  receive  or  hold  the  same  good  things  of  the  earth  as  the 
superior?  Our  answer,  in  the  light  of  justice,  I  am  quite  certain,  is 
emphatically  No,  he  has  not.  And  if  he  will  acquiesce  in  and  acknowl 
edge  the  wishes  and  powers  of  the  gods  and  Fate  and  take  his  chances 
as  a  true  man,  he  will  not  expect  or  ask  to  be  equal  with  his  brother. 
There  are  great  differences  between  brothers  and  brothers.  There  are 
vast  contrasts  between  man  and  man. 

"So  far  our  laws  allowed  the  unequal  to  share  equally,  which  is 
not  in  harmony  with  true  justice,  and  consequently  much  righteous 
fault-finding  and  strife  unto  death  nearly!  If  laws  based  on  strict 
equality  are  found  unsatisfactory,  impractical  and  undesirable  in  our 
community  of  the  Four  Hundred,  where,  in  more  than  one  sense,  all 
are  truly  equal,  surely  in  the  coming  generations  of  our  descendants 
such  laws  would  be  still  more  undesirable  and  impossible.  Under  such 
laws  we  have  found  that  we  have  been  less  diligent  than  we  might 
have  been,  because  each  one  of  us  had  a  suspicion  that  others  were 
even  doing  less  than  ourselves.  The  fact  became  plain  that  we  were 
getting  on  a  low  and  lower  level,  just  producing  enough  so  we  would 
not  be  in  want. 

"The  strict  equality  laws  and  distribution  were  no  incentive  for 
doing  one's  best.  The  high  ideal  of  using  one's  superior  strength  or 


Laws  Based  on  Nature  s  Laws  439 

ability  for  the  public  good,  we  found,  lives  only  in  the  songs  of  dreamy 
poets  and  bards.  Working  for  the  public  good  without  reward 
is  too  weak  an  incentive  for  human  kind.  That  has  been  plainly 
demonstrated.  Our  high  standing  it  was  that  saved  us  while  existing 
without  laws,  and  also  under  equality  laws,  from  bloody  conflicts. 
Never  again  will  there  be  a  community  like  ours,  consisting  wholly  of 
graduates  of  the  highest  of  schools,  selected  by  measure  of  stateliness, 
strength,  endurance,  courage,  beauty  and  wisdom.  Upon  starting  upon 
our  adventure  our  maidens  were  from  seventeen  to  twenty-five  years 
of  age;  our  men,  nineteen  to  twenty-nine  years  of  age. 

"Time  has  passed  on  eagle  wings,  it  seems,  and  now  some  of  our 
children  are  swiftly  nearing  the  threshold  of  manhood  and  womanhood. 
The  number  of  boys  and  girls  is  about  equal.  We  know  that  our 
future  generation  cannot  be  such  a  select  Four  Hundred  as  we  are. 
Although  of  high  lineage,  the  community  will  in  time  represent  indi 
viduals  of  strength  and  abilities  that  vary.  Under  our  laws  each  in 
dividual  relied  upon  the  community ;  but  the  community  could  not  well 
rely  upon  the  individuals,  because  many  shirked  duty.  Under  our  strict 
equality  laws  we  were  a  nation  of  dependents,  all  depending  upon  the 
nation,  while  the  nation  could  not  well  depend  upon  the  individual. 
The  result  is  known  to  all  of  us,  and  need  not  be  repeated.  In  a 
general  community,  we  know,  it  would  be  the  sluggard,  intemperate, 
extravagant,  incompetent  and  such  as  Fate  has  not  favored  that  would 
desire  strict  equality  laws.  The  tendency  also  has  shown  itself  to 
form  a  sentiment  against  wars.  We  have  no  enemy  to  fear,  it  is  true, 
but  it  is  well  to  imagine  a  possible  enemy  so  as  not  to  lose  the  manly 
war  spirit.  Who  would  want  endless,  lasting  peace?  Certainly  none 
but  the  weak,  cowards,  old  men  and  women.  A  nation  or  people  that 
have  no  enemies  to  battle  against  will  never  call  forth  the  noblest, 
bravest  and  highest  in  man.  For  our  children's  sake  we  should  talk 
rather  of  war  than  of  peace,  so  as  to  instill  a  feeling  of  daring,  such 
as  heroes  are  made  of.  The  opinions  expressed  and  the  suggestions 
made  in  regard  to  new  laws  by  the  large  number  of  men  and  women 
who  have  spoken  are  quite  similar  to  what  I  also  have  said  and  what 
I  have  to  suggest  in  regard  to  new  laws. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  in  regard  to  the  forming  of  new  laws,  the  first 
question  is,  On  what  shall  our  laws  be  based?  Our  opinion  is  the  laws 
of  a  nation  should  be  based  on  natural  laws;  in  other  words,  should 
be  in  harmony  with  the  natural  fitness  of  things;  should  be  in  har 
mony  with  truth  and  natural  justice. 

"Let  us  fully  acknowledge  the  fact  that  the  strong  are  more  useful 
to  a  nation  than  are  the  weak,  and  that  the  natural  tendency  of  water 
is  to  run  down  stream.  Let  us  acknowledge  that  it  is  for  the  welfare 
of  the  nation  that  the  strong  should  rule.  We  all  know  that  it  is  the 


440  Athonia;  or.  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

strong  and  fearless  that  establish  nations,  and  not  the  weak.  And  we 
know  that  the  strong  and  daring  of  a  nation  are  its  bulwark,  its  de 
fenders,  its  preservers.  We  do  not  believe  that  after  the  strong  and 
brave  have  established,  and  at  all  times  are  a  nation's  hope  and  de 
fenders,  that  the  weak,  the  cowards  and  women,  should  have  equal 
rights  with  the  strong,  on  whom  the  weak,  the  cowards  and  the  women 
must  rely  for  protection  in  war  and  peace." 

Scriborites :  Ingatia,  wife  of  Diagorax,  spoke  up  and  said :  "Noble 
Geothorides,  I  am  requested  to  ask  you,  did  you  not  always  claim  that 
you  are  for  women's  rights?" 

Geothorides  replied:  "Noble  Ingatia,  yes,  I  am  for  women's  rights. 
I  shall  later  on  touch  upon  the  woman  question,  for  it  is  always  an 
agreeable  question  to  touch  upon.  But  I  will  first  proceed.  We  see 
that  it  is  the  strong,  brave,  daring  and  wise  men  warriors  who  are 
the  builders,  defenders  and  preservers  of  a  nation.  Therefore,  our 
laws  in  regard  to  health,  including  public  examination  at  birth  and 
every  seven  years  thereafter,  also  strenuous  training  of  body  and  mind 
of  all  our  boys  and  girls,  are  among  our  nation's  most  important  laws 
and  should  be  retained.  (Applause.) 

"It  should  be  strongly  impressed  from  youth  up  that  the  state  de 
mands  that  all  its  citizens  make  strenuous  efforts  to  remain  strong  and 
healthy,  so  as  to  be  able  to  do  their  duty  to  the  state  in  peace  and  war. 

"Women  also,  for  the  good  of  the  state,  should  make  every  effort  to 
be  strong  and  healthy  for  the  strength  and  courage  and  wisdom  of  its 
future  citizens.  The  health  officers  of  the  state  should  have  the  right, 
aside  from  their  regular  seven  years'  examinations,  to  at  any  time 
examine  the  health  of  such  man  child  or  women  who  they  have 
reason  to  suspect  in  any  manner,  by  their  own  ignorance,  are  leading 
lives  that  are  harmful  to  their  physical  being.  It  is  to  the  interest  of 
the  state  that  its  citizens,  both  men  and  women,  represent  the  perfec 
tion  of  health.  As  we  now  are,  so  also  by  law  in  harmony  with  nature, 
should  all  future  mature  men  and  women  of  Athonia  be  married;  but 
the  perfectly  healthy  only,  should  perpetuate  our  race.  Also,  in  regard 
to  marriage,  the  maidens  should  ask  the  men,  as  well  as  the  men 
the  maidens.  A  state,  in  regard  to  its  general  health,  should  hold 
itself  accountable  to  the  individual,  and  so,  also,  the  individual  hold 
itself  accountable  to  the  state.  It  is  also  our  opinion  that  when  a 
nation  declares  war  it  should  be  done  with  the  consent  of  the  warriors, 
who  are  going  to  take  actual  part  in  such  war.  Such  as  remain  at 
home  should  have  no  say  in  the  matter.  All  such  who  talk  for  war 
should  be  compelled  to  go  to  war,  otherwise  a  nation's  greatest  cow 
ards  can  start  a  war  and  at  the  same  time  remain  safely  at  home  and 
leave  others  to  fight  it  out  on  the  field  of  battle.  Their  names  should 
be  recorded,  and  they  be  required  to  go  to  war,  if  such  war  takes 


Laws  Based  on  Nature's  Laws  441 

place.  The  strong,  the  nation's  defenders  and  preservers,  should  by 
their  vote  decide  all  important  questions  in  regard  to  the  government 
of  a  nation;  should  point  out  the  course  a  nation  should  pursue.  In 
short,  should  be  not  only  the  nation's  defenders  and  preservers,  but, 
as  to  voting,  should  also  be  its  foremost  rulers." 

Scriborites :  Gertia,  wife  of  Greetus,  said :  "Noble  Geothorides,  you 
speak  as  if  only  the  strong,  such  as  are  able  to  battle  for  their  country, 
are  the  only  citizens  that  can  be  of  any  service  to  a  nation.  But,  know 
we  not  well,  that  at  the  siege  of  Troy,  Nestor's  single  advice,  although 
he  was  too  old  and  weak  to  take  part  in  battle,  was  a  power  equal 
to  that  of  a  thousand  warriors?  And  was  it  not  Myrtlus,  a  weak, 
sickly  man,  that  first  advised  the  Spartan  king  to  institute  health  laws 
and  strenuous  training,  that  made  the  name  Spartan  synonymous  with 
endurance,  strength  and  courage,  beyond  all  other  races  of  man? 

"We  well  know  that  the  advice  given  by  such  who  had  not  the 
strength  to  bend  the  bow,  wield  the  sword  or  cast  the  lance  or  raise  the 
war  club  added  greatly  to  the  power  of  their  state.  Many  are  the 
names  of  the  bodily  weak  that  you,  noble  Geothorides,  could  mention, 
whose  wisdom  lent  their  nation  power  equal  to  thousands  of  warriors. 
Noble  Geothorides,  let  us  throw  the  light  in  all  directions  and  on  all 
sides,  so  as  to  be  able  to  see  the  truth,  the  whole  truth."  (Great  ap 
plause.) 

Gertia  resumed  her  seat,  upon  which  Geothorides  replied:  "Noble 
Gertia,  it  is  certainly  true  that  we  should  allow  the  light  of  truth 
and  of  facts  to  throw  its  beams  in  all  directions  and  on  all  sides. 
Nestor,  he  who  ruled  over  three  generations  of  men,  was,  it  is  true, 
in  his  old  age,  a  wise  military  counselor  to  the  great  Agamemnon  at 
the  siege  of  Troy. 

"But  it  is  well  to  remember  that  in  his  day  he  had  been  a  great 
and  strong  hero  of  deeds  and  actions.  However  wise  the  weak  may 
be,  it  needs  the  strong  and  fearless  to  establish  a  nation  and  to  pre 
serve  it.  What  surveyor  is  it  that,  with  his  instruments  of  war,  lays 
out  and  establishes  the  boundary  lines  of  nations?  The  soldier.  He, 
the  warrior,  the  soldier,  it  is  who,  with  the  various  instruments  of  war, 
traces,  draws  and  constructs  the  map  of  the  nations  of  the  world. 

"But,  noble  Gertia,  it  is  true  that  at  times  men  and  women  there 
have  been,  are  and  always  will  be,  who,  although  bodily  weak,  lacking 
the  strength  and  courage  to  go  into  battle,  through  their  gifted  minds 
are  powerful  factors  for  the  nation's  greatness  and  glory  in  times 
of  peace  and  in  times  of  war.  (Applause.)  Such  names  we  also  hand 
to  future  posterity  with  those  of  warriors  such  as  Menestheus,  Aga 
memnon,  Achilles,  Hector,  Diomed,  Hercules,  Theseus,  Ulysses,  Ajax 
and  the  immortal  train  of  noble  heroes.  (Applause.)  If  ever  there  is 
a  people  who  honor  such,  the  weak  in  body,  who  have  been  favored  by 


442  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

the  gods  with  fine-grained,  powerful  minds,  it  certainly  is  the  Four 
Hundred  of  Athonia.     (Applause.) 

Their  praises  ever  have  the  Muses  sung, 

With  those  of  heroes,  loud  and  clear  have  rung. 

"Coming  back  to  the  questions  of  the  day — the  Laws:  It  is  our 
opinion,  that  I  represent,  that  all  public  questions  should  be  decided  by 
a  two-thirds  vote.  Our  system  of  choosing  and  deciding  by  lot  was 
quite  suitable  for  the  Four  Hundred.  But,  even  in  my  case,  I  was 
chosen  by  lot  to  speak  and  represent  the  crowd  I  have  before  referred 
to.  I  suggested  to  vote  for  the  one  who  should  speak  here  and  repre 
sent  all  the  men  and  women  who  happened  to  gather  some  days  ago, 
as  already  stated.  If  my  suggestion  had  been  followed  to  vote  instead 
of  choosing  by  lot,  I  would  and  should  not  have  been  chosen  to  speak 
for  the  others;  but  instead  we  would  have  had  the  pleasure  of  listen 
ing  to  one  of  our  real,  true  orators.  Choosing  by  lot  is  a  blind  system 
indeed.  We  know  that  often  there  are  such  that  can  do  some  particular 
thing  somewhat  better  than  others.  Such  can  be  chosen  by  vote;  but 
by  lot  such  are  liable  to  be  passed  by,  to  the  detriment  of  the  com 
munity  at  large.  The  system  of  choosing  by  lot  would  be  still  more 
undesirable  for  our  coming  descendants,  for  they  will  not  be  of  equal 
standing  as  we  are  at  present.  For,  in  our  own  families,  there  will  be 
inequalities  in  stature,  strength  and  wisdom.  In  time  various  classes 
may  again  form,  perhaps  even  including  slaves,  as  in  other  lands." 

Scriborites :  Diomedus  arose  and  said :  "Noble  Geothorides,  we 
have  been  wafted  here  by  the  gods  to  form  a  model  government.  The 
gods,  as  we  all  admit,  have  a  right  to  expect  us  to  establish  a  govern 
ment  not  only  suitable  for  ourselves,  but  a  government  that  will  be  a 
model  government  for  our  descendants  unto  endless  aeons.  Our  de 
scendants  shall  not  divide  against  each  other  into  classes,  nor,  as  inti 
mated,  shall  there  ever  be  slaves." 

Geothorides  replied:  "Noble  Diomedus,  I  believe  I  have  been  low 
ering  our  descendants  too  suddenly  onto  a  low  strata  of  society.  I 
imagined  that  in  the  far  future  generations  of  our  descendants,  such 
equality  as  at  present  exists  among  us  could  not  be. preserved.  But 
it  is  true  our  laws  should  be  so  constructed  that  equality  among  our 
descendants  will  be  preserved  above  that  of  any  country  in  the  world. 
(Applause.) 

"In  regard  to  humanity,  in  regard  to  the  wishes  of  the  gods,  in 
equality  is  Nature's  stamp.  Are  there  any  two  people  just  alike  in 
their  appearance,  voice,  face,  mind,  in  the  whole  world?  No;  each  is 
different  from  the  other.  In  a  nation  that  grows  in  a  natural  way 
you  can  expect 

Some  must  rule  and  some  obey, 
Or  chaos  holdeth  ruinous  sway. 


Individual  Liberty  Laws  443 

Strabo  arose  and  said:  "Noble  Geothorides,  yes,  some  must  rule, 
and  all  should  obey.  But  whom  the  citizens  elect  by  vote  to  rule  for 
a  time  must  rule  according  to  the  laws  which  the  citizens  have  formed. 
Such  rulers  are  only  the  high  servants  of  the  people."  (Applause.) 

Geothorides  replied:  "Noble  Strabo,  yes,  such  should  be  the  effect 
of  our  laws  unto  endless  generations;  as  I  stated  before,  all  public 
questions  and  positions  should  be  decided  and  chosen  by  two-thirds 
vote,  and  not  by  blind  lot.  Also  should  games  of  chance  and  lotteries 
be  prohibited  by  law,  for  such  are  a  mockery  against  true,  useful, 
noble  labor.  As  we  want  our  new  laws  to  harmonize  with  Nature,  and, 
whereas,  throughout  Nature  among  all  animals  on  land,  in  sea  or  in  the 
sky,  and  among  mankind,  the  strong  rule,  in  a  nation  that  is  ruled  by 
votes  the  men  only  should  vote.  Women,  under  our  new  laws,  should 
not  vote." 

Scriborites:  Upon  this  announcement,  a  large  number  of  the  ladies 
sprang  to  their  feet,  all  shouting  in  an  excited  manner,  all  determined 
to  speak  at  the  same  time. 

Parlaro,  whose  duty  it  was  to  decide  as  to  who  was  the  first 
entitled  to  speak,  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  I  also  hold  that  the  new 
laws  should  state  that  all  questions  should  be  decided  by  vote  instead 
of  by  lot.  But  in  this  instance  I  prefer  to  decide  by  lot  which  of  the 
women  is  entitled  to  speak  first." 

By  lot  it  has  been  decided  that  Celestia,  wife  of  Emporosodes,  has 
the  privilege. 

Celestia  said:  "Noble  Geothorides,  you  certainly  have  a  very  vacil 
lating  mind.  In  answer  to  the  question,  by  some  of  our  women,  you 
said  you  were  for  women's  rights,  and  now  you  propose  that  the  new 
law  shall  not  allow  women  to  vote.  Isn't  that  a  perfect  outrage,  to 
speak  mildly?  Are  your  actions  anything  but  honorable?  Are  they 
worthy  of  yourself,  noble  Geothorides?  Have  you  anything  to  say  in 
self-defense,  after  having  publicly  stated  that  you  are  for  'women's 
rights'  ?' '  ( Applause. ) 

Scriborites :  Geothorides  appeared  as  if  he  was  the  world's  greatest 
sinner.  He  said  in  a  slow,  calm,  but  determined  voice: 

"Noble  Celestia,  noble  ladies  all!  There  must  be  some  misunder 
standing.  I  and  the  crowd  I  represent  are  and  always  will  be  for 
'women's  rights,'  but  as  to  the  right  of  voting  on  public  affairs,  that  we 
consider  by  Nature,  according  to  the  natural  fitness  of  things,  to  be 
man's  right  only.  But  not  only  myself,  but  all  of  the  ladies  and  men 
who  have  by  lot  appointed  me  to  express  their  views,  are  for  'women's 
rights.'  But  they  are  not  for  women  having  men's  rights.  The  ladies 
whom  I  represent  also  hold  the  same  opinion.  To  make  it  plain,  I 
must  repeat :  We  are  against  having  men's  rights  conferred  on  women, 
as  voting,  doing  men's  hard  labor,  going  to  war,  etc.  We  want  to 


444  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

base  our  new  laws  on  Nature,  in  harmony  with  the  natural  fitness  of 
things,  so  that  they  will  not  be  only  temporary,  but  enduring  laws, 
such  as  are  the  laws  of  Nature." 

Scriborites:  Viola,  wife  of  Benocles,  said:  "Noble  Geothorides, 
you  say  you  are  for  'women's  rights,'  but  do  not  want  women  to  have 
men's  rights.  You  say  women  can't  go  into  war ;  that  they  are  by 
nature  not  strong  enough.  It  seems  you  think  women  would  shirk 
from  going  to  war,  but  we  wish  to  have  it  understood  that  we,  each 
and  all  of  us  women,  would  be  ready  at  any  time  to  go  to  war  and 
die  for  our  country  as  well  as  you  men.  (Applause.)  Did  not  our 
noble  Corina,  who  was  elected  by  lot,  for  seven  moons,  show  her 
ability  to  command  our  warriors?  Did  she  not  show  that  woman  can 
go  to  war  if  allowed  to?  Were  not  you  one  of  the  many  who  praised 
her  as  a  military  commander?  Yes,  we  all  would  be  delighted  to  have 
an  opportunity  to  go  to  war.  We  certainly  would  be  highly  delighted 
to  show  you,  the  lords  of  creation,  that  women  can  fight  and  die  for 
their  country  as  well  as  men.  (Applause.)  In  our  philosophical 
schools  at  Athens,  were  we  not  taught  that  women,  honored  by  the 
name  of  Amazons,  conquered  lands  and  became  rulers  thereof?  Were 
we  not  taught  that  the  bravery  and  heroism  of  women,  in  some  in 
stances,  were  above  that  of  men?  Yes,  women  can  do  all  things  that 
men  can  do,  and  therefore  we  should  have  equal  rights,  right  to  vote, 
and  a  right  to  go  to  war. 

"In  regard  to  courage  and  fearlessness,  are  we  women  not  equal 
to  men?  Noble  Geothorides,  we  have  no  doubt  that  the  facts  that 
have  been  stated  have  thrown  light  on  all  sides  of  the  woman  ques 
tion,  and  cannot  but  help  assist  you  in  seeing  the  error  of  your  ways.'' 
(Applause.) 

Scriborites :  Geothorides  replied,  in  a  slow,  thoughtful  manner,  and 
said:  "Noble  Viola,  noble  ladies  all!  There  seems  to  be  some  deep 
misunderstanding  in  regard  to  the  woman  question.  In  order  to  clear 
away  the  mist  that  seems  to  surround  it,  it  will  be  necessary  to  allude 
to  the  same  at  much  greater  length  than  was  thought  necessary.  But 
I  shall  make  efforts  to  be  brief.  Let  us  throw  light,  as  the  noble  ladies 
say,  on  all  sides  of  the  woman  question.  Let  us  banish  fancy  and  sen 
timent  and  state  actual  facts.  In  short,  let  us  stand  with  both  feet 
on  the  adamantine  corner-stone  of  actual  facts,  and  not  play  with 
false  fancies  in  the  air.  As  noble  Viola  says,  were  we  not  taught  in 
our  Athenian  philosophical  schools  about  the  brave  deeds  of  women, 
honored  by  the  name  of  Amazons? 

"Yes,  we  were  taught  about  the  deeds  of  the  Amazons,  and  I  am 
quite  certain  that  noble  Viola  must  have  forgotten  the  particulars  that 
were  taught  us  in  regard  to  those  so-called  women,  known  in  history 
as  Amazons,  or  she  would,  I  know,  beyond  all  doubt,  have  blushed  to 


Individual  Liberty  Laws  445 

even  mention  their  names.  In  regard  to  the  Amazons  I  will,  for  the 
fair,  noble  name  of  woman,  allude  to  them  in  the  shortest  manner  pos 
sible.  The  women  of  a  land  far  east  of  Greece  gathered  in  great  num 
bers  and  invaded  and  conquered  a  neighboring  land.  When  they  cap 
tured  men  or  boys  they  would  cripple  them  and  keep  them  as  slaves. 
They  were,  it  was  taught  us,  a  gathering  of  women  who  acted  with 
abandon  in  regard  to  all  things.  Some  of  our  most  profound  historians 
claim  that  they  were  not  true  women,  but  only  had  a  slight  resemblance 
to  women  in  outward  appearance. '  And  such,  I  believe,  they  were — not 
women.  At  least,  let  us  hope  they  were  not  women.  We  know  they 
were  not  agreeable  in  the  eyes  of  the  gods  or  men;  and  consequently 
disappeared  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"As  to  women's  power  and  influence  in  war,  to  be  brief,  first,  we 
know  that  on  account  of  beautiful  Helen  nations  warred.  Secondly, 
we  know  that  the  charming  maiden  Briseis,  captured  by  Achilles,  which 
maiden  was  claimed  by  Agamemnon,  was  the  direct  cause  of  prolong 
ing  the  Trojan  war  many  moons.  For  Achilles,  grieved  at  the  loss  of 
the  charming  maiden  Briseis,  whom  he  had  captured,  sulked  in  his 
tent,  and  would  not,  with  his  fearless,  strong  army  of  Myridones,  con 
tinue  to  assist  Agamemnon  in  the  siege  of  Troy. 

"After  many  entreaties,  and  after  the  death  of  his  dearest  friend, 
Patroclus,  he  again  joined  the  Greeks  in  the  siege  of  Troy,  which, 
through  his  assistance,  fell  after  nine  years  of  weary  war.  So  much 
for  the  effect  of  one  beautiful  maiden  among  warriors.  Let  us  ask 
if  such  was  the  effect  of  one  beautiful  woman's  presence  on  the  field 
of  war,  what  would  be  the  effect  of  thousands  of  beautiful  women 
among  warriors?  Let  us,  noble  ladies,  allow  the  light  of  truth  to 
illumine  all  sides. 

"Now,  let  us  say  that  there  are  thousands  of  men  warriors  and 
thousands  of  women  warriors  on  a  battlefield.  The  women  would  be 
under  women  commanders  and  the  men  would  be  under  men  com 
manders.  They  would  be  kept  apart,  of  course.  They  would  be  under 
military  law,  oh,  yes — and  right  here,  let  me  say,  such  military  law 
would  soon  be  very  loose  and  of  no  effect,  because  they  would  not  be 
in  harmony  with  the  natural  inclination  laws  of  both  men  and  women. 
Let  us  throw  the  full  light  on  such  a  condition  of  affairs  that  would 
exist  on  such  a  battlefield.  For  instance,  when  both  men  and  women 
warriors  expect  to  charge  into  the  deadly  catapult  on  the  morrow, 
would  they  not,  under  such  battlefield  conditions,  naturally  be  swayed 
by  a  sort  of  abandon  and  think :  'Let  us  enjoy  life  while  we  may' ': 
Such  an  army  would  lose  greatly  in  earnest  military  discipline,  and 
would  be  an  easy  prey  to  the  enemy. 

"Noble  Viola  claims  women  have  great  courage,  in  many  instances 
even  more  than  men.  We  must  admit  that  in  exceptional  cases  women 


446  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

have  shown  great  courage.  If  women  could  vote  they  could  at  times 
outvote  the  men.  That  would  be  a  rule  of  the  weak,  which,  in  view 
of  the  necessary  strength  required  to  uphold  the  state,  would  be  un 
natural  and  not  based  on  plain  justice. 

"There  are  many  things  men  can  do  much  better  than  women, 
among  which  are  going  to  war  and  attending  to  public  affairs.  The 
reason  is  a  natural  one,  namely,  because  women  are  not  built  that 
way.  We  are  quite  certain  that  every  true,  normal  woman  thanks  the 
gods  that  she  is  not.  And  I  know  that  every  true  man  is  glad  that 
she  is  not  built  on  the  same  lines  as  a  man.  The  more  womanly  a 
woman  is,  the  more  charming  and  beautiful  she  is  in  the  eyes  of  the 
gods  and  man.  And  the  more  manly  a  man  is,  so  much  more  is  he 
admired  and  respected  by  the  gods  and  women.  We  know  that  women 
mean  well ;  but  they  are  in  error  in  desiring  to  vote  and  go  into  war ; 
and  it  is  our  duty  to  protect  and  defend  them  from  their  own  error. 
One  of  our  noble  ladies  said:  'We  would  be  delighted  to  go  to  war. 
We  have  the  same  courage  and  fearlessness  as  men.' 

"Let  me  relate,  only  a  short  time  ago  there  was  a  company  of 
ladies  in  a  house  that  I  was  passing,  and  while  still  near  the  same 
fearful,  frightful  shrieks  of  many  women  struck  my  ears.  I  rushed 
back,  opened  the  door,  and  beheld  death-shrieking  ladies  standing  on 
benches  and  looking  on  the  floor  in  all  directions.  I  also  looked  on  the 
floor,  and  instead  of  a  number  of  murderers,  I  espied  a  small  mouse, 
which  was  almost  scared  to  death,  trying  to  find  a  hole  to  escape. 
I  grabbed  the  mouse  and  threw  it  out  of  the  window,  and  I  also 
escaped,  feeling  relieved  on  not  finding  bloodthirsty  animals  or  mur 
derers.  (Applause.) 

"Noble  ladies,  because  woman  cannot  go  to  war  is  not  the  only 
reason  why  she  should  not  vote.  Among  many  reasons  is  also  the 
charm  which  their  voice,  form,  gracefulness  and  beauty  would  exert 
on  us  men  voters,  which  women  as  public  speakers,  in  public  affairs, 
would  make  us  men  more  or  less  oblivious  to  the  merits  or  demerits 
of  her  arguments.  It  is  well  known  that  a  man's  true  reasoning  pow 
ers  are  apt  to  flee  in  the  presence  of  loveliness.  Also,  on  the  other 
hand,  as  to  men  speakers,  a  manly  voice,  attitude,  prepossessing  ap 
pearance  would  naturally,  unconsciously  exert  an  influence  on  women 
voters  far  beyond  what  the  merits  of  his  pleadings  would  warrant. 
There  would  be  a  natural  sex  attraction  or  antagonism,  which  would  be 
a  factor  between  men  and  women  voters  towards  displacing  reason  by 
feeling,  to  the  detriment  of  public  affairs  in  general. 

"Some  men  seem  to  be  against  women  voting  also  because  they  say 
women  would  insist  on  having  the  last  word  always.  As  to  women's 
meetings  it  is  said: 

"All  want  to  govern,  but  none  obey, 
All  want  to  speak,  but  none  listen."  (Applause.) 


Individual  Liberty  Laws  447 

"Noble  women,  no  matter  how  distant  the  battlefield  of  war  may  be, 
the  warrior's  loved  one  is  always  before  his  eyes,  and  ever  near  in 
his  heart.  It  is  the  thought  of  her,  far  away — the  true,  the  chaste,  the 
loving — that  makes  him  a  true  hero.  It  is,  after  all,  her  that  he  is 
fighting  for.  For  what  would  this  world — this  life — be  to  man  with 
out  lovely  woman?  Among  the  reasons,  noble  ladies,  why  we  don't 
want  you  to  vote  is  to  protect  you  from  becoming  masculinized — man 
nish — which  is  repulsive  in  women,  just  as  an  effeminate,  weak,  wom 
anish  man  is  abhorred  by  all  true  women.  Women,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  ballots,  would  not  fail  to  be  coarsened  by  falling  into  mannish 
ways.  Women,  always,  truly  should  have  the  right  to  ask  laws  to  be 
enacted  by  petition  if  they  so  desire,  and  I,  as  a  man,  can  guarantee 
that  no  man  will  vote  against  their  wishes  if  he  really  believes  it  is 
to  the  good  of  women  and  the  state  as  a  whole. 

"But  let  me  emphasize,  let  each  make  her  wish  known  to  her 
loving  husband,  and  he  naturally  will,  if  in  his  judgment  it  is  for  the 
welfare  of  women,  so  vote. 

"Let  me  further  say  the  asking  of  women  to  vote  is,  strictly  speak 
ing,  a  serious  reflection  against  their  noble  husbands  and  man  in  gen 
eral.  In  regard  to  women  voting,  all  normal  men  and  women  cannot 
but  say,  'Perish  the  thought!'  We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  that 
most  all  women  are  normal  women,  and  do  not  desire  to  vote.  The 
real  reason,  noble  ladies,  why  we  don't  want  you  to  vote  is,  in  a  nut 
shell, — because  we  love  you  so."  (Great  applause.) 

Scriborites:  The  ladies  called  on  Sophon,  perhaps  because  they 
look  upon  him  as  leaning  very  favorably  toward  women. 

Sophon  said:  "Noble  ladies,  there  is  very  little  left  to  say  on  the 
woman  question,  in  regard  to  voting  or  going  to  war.  Knowing,  as 
we  married  men  do,  the  difference  between  coarse  man  and  fine  woman, 
we  realize  it  is  man's  duty  to  protect  her  against  her  own  errors,  to 
which  belong  the  desire  to  vote  and  going  to  war. 

"The  fine,  soft  skin,  fine,  graceful  form,  sweet  voice,  charming, 
glistening  eyes,  abundance  of  soft,  silky  hair,  her  warm,  loving,  im 
pulsive  nature,  mark  her  as  quite  distinct  from  the  coarseness  of  burly 
man.  We  men  think  so  highly  of  true  women  that  we  think  it  would  be 
unfortunate  if  our  women  would  mingle  in  the  base  schemes  of  politics 
or  of  war. 

"Noble  ladies,  it  is  not  necessary  for  women  to  vote;  for  as  men 
fight  and  die  for  women,  so  also  will  men  vote  for  the  interests  and 
true  welfare  of  women.  As  graduates,  we  have  all  learned  that  the 
treatment  of  women  is  an  index  of  a  nation's  high  or  low  standing.  We 
can  say  that  the  standing  of  our  noble  women  also  serves  as  an  index 
of  the  high  standing  of  Athonia.  (Applause.) 

"Men  become,  at  times,  excited  in  political  debate,  but  women  would 


448  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

become  even  more  so ;  for  charming  woman  is  liable  to  become  hysteri 
cal,  as  it  were,  and  as  we  have  all  observed,  very  likely  to  be  swayed 
by  impulse,  and  not  led  by  rational  reasoning.  To  be  well  in  the  sight 
of  (he  gods,  we  each  and  all  should  thank  the  gods  for  whatever  we 
are,  and  in  accordance  with  Nature,  manfully  and  womanlike  fulfill 
our  mission  as  decreed  by  the  gods.  I  propose  that  the  noble  ladies 
themselves  vote  whether  they  desire  the  right  to  vote  or  not." 

Scriborites :  Militos  announced  the  vote  as  follows :  Eleven  for  and 
one  hundred  and  eighty -nine  against  voting.  (Great  applause.) 

Geothorides  proceeded  and  said:  "The  result  of  the  vote  of  the 
noble  ladies  is,  beyond  all  doubt,  highly  pleasing  to  man  and  the  gods. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  coming  back  to  new  laws,  we  also  suggest  that 
public  officers  should  not  accept  gifts ;  for  we,  as  graduates,  have  learned 
that  a  gift  unknowingly  turns  the  heart  towards  the  giver. 

"The  penalty  for  giving  and  accepting  of  gifts  should  be  equal.  As 
to  penalties,  none  should  be  paid  by  wealth ;  for  that  would  give  wealth 
a  very  unjust  privilege  over  such  citizens  who  possess  no  wealth.  All 
citizens  should  be  punished  or  imprisoned  equally. 

"A  citizen  killing  another  without  just  cause  should  forfeit  his  life. 
When  the  proof  of  a  crime  is  circumstantial,  no  life  should  be  taken; 
for  experience  has  shown  that  circumstantial  evidence  is  liable  to  be 
misleading  in  regard  to  facts  and  truth.  The  highest  penalty,  on  cir 
cumstantial  evidence,  should  be  life  imprisonment. 

"We  should  desire  none  to  be  extremely  rich  or  poor,  for  as  it  is 
in  all  things,  so,  too,  it  is  in  a  nation ;  the  golden  mean  is  best  for  indi 
viduals  and  for  public  welfare.  Also  should  there  be  a  law  which 
would  require  the  rich  in  various  ways  to  give  a  part  of  their  abun 
dance,  at  short  intervals  of  time,  into  the  public  treasury,  thus  less 
ening  the  burden  of  those  who  are  not  so  fortunate.  As  we  have 
already  said,  the  new  laws  should  be  based  on  the  natural  fitness  of 
things.  Our  strict  equality  laws  of  the  present  time  are  such  that 
those  who  can  fly  higher  than  others,  so  to  speak,  have  their  wings 
cut  so  as  to  remain  on  a  general  level;  for  the  incentive  to  fly  higher 
does  not  exist,  as  the  result  of  all  labor  and  ability  is  equally  shared 
by  all.  Our  laws  should  be  based  on  liberty  and  freedom  for  the  indi 
vidual  to  aspire  in  an  orderly,  lawful  manner  to  the  heights  of  his 
ability.  No  one  should  be  held  down,  but  each  and  all  should  have 
the  individual  liberty  to  aspire  upward  and  onward.  The  results 
would  be  that  then  each  would  receive  according  to  his  merits.  Such 
as  are  favored  by  the  gods,  with  more  than  common  strength,  ability 
or  wisdom  would,  in  the  natural  order  of  things,  attain  to  greater 
height  in  regard  to  the  good  things  of  the  earth  than  such  who  are 
favored  by  the  gods  in  a  less  degree.  The  inferior  in  regard  to 
strength,  ability  and  so  forth  may  at  times  be  favored,  aided  by  luck 


Individual  Liberty  Laws  449 

(Fate),  which  factor,  it  seems,  exists  at  times,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  such  as  are  not  as  able  as  others  towards  equality  in  obtain 
ing  material  reward.  To  wait  for  luck  is  folly,  for  its  visits  are  very 
rare  and  uncertain;  and  when  it  seems  to  approach  it  generally  takes 
wing  again. 

"Our  new  laws  should  place  nothing  in  the  way  of  such  as  are 
favored  by  the  gods  with  superior  strength,  energy  and  ability.  Each 
citizen  should  be  given  full  liberty  and  freedom  to  aspire  in  an  orderly 
way  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability,  and  allowed  the  results  of  his 
endeavors. 

"A  great  ruler  of  a  great  nation  once  said:  'All  should  strive  up 
ward;  none  pull  down.' 

"In  the  natural  order  of  things  the  strong,  able  and  energetic  will, 
as  a  rule,  obtain  many  more  of  the  good  things  of  the  earth  than 
others.  Inequality,  as  has  been  said,  is  Nature's  stamp;  while  luck  is 
somewhat  of  an  equalizer.  Individual  liberty  will  call  forth  man's 
greatest  power,  energy  and  ability,  and  place  humanity  on  the  highest 
possible  plane.  Our  new  laws,  as  suggested,  would  create  orderly  con 
tests  for  the  good  things  desired  by  man,  taking  into  consideration 
their  needs,  comforts  and  enjoyments.  From  youth  up  all  should  be 
taught  that  when  of  age  to  enter  the  contests  of  life,  as  we  may  term 
it,  as  men,  to  take  their  chances  as  men,  work  industriously  onward 
as  men,  and  in  whatever  state  of  life  the  Fates  have  reserved  for  them 
to  act  as  men  always,  and  not  allow  envy  to  turn  into  hate  against 
such  whom  the  Fates  seem  to  have  favored. 

"Let  us  compare  such  contests  with  a  contest  of  a  man's  foot  race. 
Let  us  picture  a  straight  line,  drawn  in  the  sand ;  ten  contestants  stand 
ing,  each  with  both  feet  on  the  line.  All  have  an  equal  chance,  it  is 
true.  But  we  know  that  in  themselves  they  are  unequal,  which  will 
come  plainly  to  view  when  they  run.  They  are  off!  Instead  of  re 
maining  in  a  broad  line  as  they  started,  some  are  ahead  of  others. 
The  most  dexterous  runner  reaches  the  goal  first ;  the  next  best  second, 
and  so  on. 

"Somewhat  similar  to  such  footrace  contests  would  be  the 
contests  between  man  and  man  in  a  nation  that  has  individual 
liberty  as  a  basis  for  its  laws.  In  the  foot  running  contest 
those  who  do  not  reach  the  goal  first  do  not  hate  the  winner,  but,  like 
men,  shake  his  hand  and  praise  him  for  his  success. 

"Such  manly  spirit  should  also  obtain  among  the  citizens  of  a  nation 
whose  laws  are  framed  on  individual  liberty.  There  will,  in  time,  be 
great  differences  of  wealth,  'tis  true,  and  some  will  enjoy  at  least 
many  luxuries  which  others  have  not.  But  we  must  admit  that  it  is 
not  necessary  that  every  citizen  should  own  the  unnecessaries  of  life. 


450  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

It  is  not  necessary  that  all  should  have  equal  wealth.    The  unnecessa- 
ries  of  life — luxuries — are  not  of  vital  importance. 

"Our  laws  should  be  such,  also,  as  not  to  allow  the  aged  and  weak 
to  be  without  a  habitat,  raiment  and  the  necessaries  of  life.  (Ap 
plause.) 

Some  citizens  may  find  it  best  to  work  for  themselves;  some  to 
work  for  others  for  pay;  others  may  prefer  to  work  in  a  social  com 
munity,  sharing  equally.  Our  Individual  Liberty  Laws  will  offer  un 
hindered,  free  scope  to  each  of  these  systems. 

"It  is  the  opinion  of  the  crowd  of  men  and  women  I  represent  that, 
as  in  our  games  and  contests,  'Fair  Play'  should  also  be  the  motto  of 
our  nation. 

"In  conclusion,  fellow  Athonians,  we  have  now  quite  fully  ex 
pressed  our  opinions  as  to  laws  for  our  ideal,  individual,  liberty-govern 
ment.  We  believe  that  if  the  laws  proposed  be  adopted,  their  spurring 
powers  for  the  greatest  and  best  in  man  and  woman  will,  at  least  in 
generations  to  come,  call  forth  men  and  women  of  such  high  renown 
that  their  names  will  be  immortalized  in  the  brilliant  stars  above  with 
Perseus,  Hercules,  Castor  and  Pollux  and  other  heroes  that  glitter  in 
the  blue  vault  above,  to  the  greatness  and  glory  of  Athonia."  (Great 
applause.) 

Scriborites:  The  whole  assemblage  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus,  accom 
panied  by  the  full  number  of  musicians,  sang  in  a  very  stirring  manner : 

When  Greek  meets  Greek  on  festal  day, 
The  watchword  is  'Fair  play,  fair  play.' 

After  a  short  interval  of  time,  Tiamodeus  arose  and  said:  "Fellow 
Athenians,  it  is  true,  being  the  only  people  on  this  great,  unknown 
land,  we  can  experiment  with  different  kinds  of  laws.  It  may  be  fair 
to  ask  what  can  be  done  with  rogues  that  are  within  the  law.  I  sup 
pose  public  opinion  must  punish  such,  if  there  ever  are  any. 

"I  remember  one  of  our  Grecian  philosophers  said:  'It  is  easier 
to  make  laws  for  an  ideal,  imaginary  people — people  like  we  would 
want  them  to  be — than  it  is  to  make  laws  for  the  people  as  they  actually 
are  and  always  will  be.'  To  make  an  ideal  nation,  when  humankind  is 
and  always  will  be,  far  from  ideal,  on  account  of  envy,  hatred,  jealousy, 
dishonesty,  ignorance  and  suspicion,  is  an  impossible  task.  It  is  claimed 
that  in  a  government  of  the  people  many  great  questions  must  be  left 
to  solve  themselves.  Our  present  laws,  based  on  strict  equality,  try 
the  impossible,  namely,  to  make  the  unequal  equal. 

"The  laws  now  proposed  by  the  Geothorides  crowd  and  others  are 
not  beyond  criticism.  But  I  believe  they  are  the  best  we  can  form  for 
the  present.  Therefore,  fellow  Athonians,  I  propose  that  a  vote  be 
tasen  for  or  against  the  adoption  of  the  new  laws,  which  are  based 


Individual  Liberty  Laws  451 

on  individual  liberty,  with  'Fair  Play'  as  our  nation's  motto,  as  pro 
posed  by  noble  Geothorides."  (Applause.) 

Scriborites:  After  a  short  interval  of  time  Militos  announced  the 
vote  as  follows:  Against  adoption,  twenty-seven  votes;  for  adoption, 
one  hundred  and  seventy-three  votes.  (Great  applause.) 

Tiamodeus  said:  "As  over  two-thirds  of  the  votes  cast  are  for 
the  adoption  of  the  new  laws,  based  on  individual  liberty,  as  proposed 
by  Geothorides,  they  are  therefore  adopted  and  in  force  from  the  next 
rising  of  Phoebus,  the  law  of  strict  equality  being  then  no  longer  in 
force."  (Great  applause.) 

Scriborites:  Orato,  from  the  altar,  with  incense  arising,  said: 
"May  the  musicians  and  whole  assemblage  sing  the  song  beginning : 

Our  gods  on  high  Olympus, 
Far,  far,  o'er  the  sea . 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  powerful  wave  of  song,  Marstenes  said : 
"By  general  request  the  assemblage  will  now  pass  out  into  the  open, 
and  for  the  remaining  part  of  our  festal  day  the  building  of  human 
pyramids  by  men,  women,  boys  and  girls  will  take  place,  and  also 
military  exercises  by  the  boys  and  girls." 

Scriborites :  After  all  had  passed  out  of  the  Temple  of  Zeus  to  the 
wide,  long  plaza,  extending  nothward  from  the  temple,  on  each  side  of 
which  our  dwellings  stand  at  good  distances  from  each  other,  Gracio 
led  in  the  athletic  feats  of  building  human  shafts  and  pyramids.  One 
of  the  highest  pillars  was  formed  by  three  men  and  three  women 
standing  on  each  other's  shoulders,  a  small  boy,  wraving  a  tiny  rainbow 
flag,  at  its  pinnacle.  All  who  took  part  in  this  day's  athletic  exer 
cises  were  clad  in  athletic  tights.  The  largest  pyramid  was  formed 
of  eighteen  men  and  eighteen  women,  with  six  men  for  its  base,  a  small 
girl,  waving  a  palm  leaf  fan,  standing  on  the  shoulders  of  the  highest. 
A  large  number  of  different  kinds  of  pillars  and  pyramids  were  also 
displayed,  all  of  which  were  pleasing  to  behold.  The  games  and  other 
athletic  performances  were  concluded  by  the  boys'  and  girls'  military 
drill  in  command  of  Marstenes.  The  boys  and  girls  displayed  great 
enthusiasm  for  drilling,  their  military  movements  being  quite  precise. 
All  were  greatly  pleased  with  their  bearing  and  neat  military  ap 
pearance.  A  finer  set  of  boys  and  girls  the  sun  never  shone  on — surely 
a  delight  in  the  eyes  of  the  gods  and  men.  The  boys  carried  lances 
and  shields  and  the  girls  bows  and  arrows.  The  girls'  hair  was  orna 
mented  with  flowers,  the  boys'  hair  with  palm  leaves. 

Marstenes  ordered  the  music  to  play  the  sunset  song,  and  the  day's 
festival  came  to  an  end. 

It  will  be  very  many,  many  moons  before  I  shall  again,  if  ever, 
record  further  events  that  come  to  pass  in  Athonia.  But  whatever  I 
feel  inclined  to  record  I  shall  place  the  same,  with  the  record  scrolls 


452  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

of  our  ship,  kept  in  the  ark  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus,  of  which  I  have 
charge. 

Scriborites:  It  is  now  many,  many  moons  since  I  last  inscribed 
events  to  be  added  to  the  record  rolls.  These  records  were  inscribed 
at  the  festival  at  which  the  new  laws,  based  on  individual  liberty,  were 
adopted.  Under  those  laws,  it  is  true,  a  number  of  our  citizens  have 
enlarged  and  conspicuously  improved  their  dwellings  and  surroundings, 
in  favorable  contrast  to  others.  The  laws,  at  least,  are  not  found 
fault  with. 

Since  inscribing  my  last  records  several  of  our  dear  beloved  men 
and  women  have  passed  away.  Resignates,  she  whom  we  all  gave  the 
name  of  Cassandra,  because  she  always  foretold  that  evil  would  befall 
us,  also  is  among  those  whom  we  all  so  deeply  miss.  She,  even  to  the 
last,  said  that  she  had  a  premonition  that  something  dreadful  would 
befall  us  all.  Not  that  she  cared  for  herself,  for  she  was  really  brave, 
and  had  a  heart  for  any  fate,  but  because  of  the  rest  of  us.  Even  to 
her  last  day,  while  she  was  ill,  she  said  she  had  a  vision  in  which 
she  saw  all  the  men,  women  and  children  of  Athonia  marching  into 
the  woods  with  the  intention  of  leading  the  life  of  nomads,  hunters 
and  fishers;  life  similar,  as  history  had  taught  us,  to  that  which  our 
first  forefathers  led,  before  Athene  had  taught  them  to  live  in  cities. 
She  said  that  she  had  a  vision  that  in  time  all  Athonia  would  live 
similarly  to  wild  men. 

Resignates  is  at  rest,  where  visions  and  fear  will  no  longer  haunt 
and  disturb  her.  She  was  a  noble  soul,  courageous  ever,  whose  deep, 
earnest  solicitude  for  the  safety  and  welfare  of  others  was  far  greater 
than  for  her  own. 

All  of  us,  also,  at  times  are  filled  with  the  earnest  thought  in  many, 
many  moons,  how  will  it  be  possible  to  keep  up  the  high  standard  ol 
true  Grecian  energy.  The  oldest  of  our  boys  and  girls  are  now  over 
two  hundred  moons  (sixteen  years)  of  age.  They  are  perfect  pictures 
of  our  noble  Grecian  race.  But  we  can't  help  but  feel  that  in  this  hot 
climate  their  energy  and  strength  can  never  be  equal  to  that  of  their 
parents  or  forefathers.  In  this  climate  how  can  anyone  aspire  to 
great  things  as  in  our  native  Greece? 

At  all  festivals  the  older  citizens  relate  to  our  boys  and  girls  things 
of  the  land  of  our  grandfathers  and  mothers,  far  over  the  stormy  sea. 
I  also,  as  their  scribe  and  teacher,  relate  at  times  to  them  of  our 
Greece  and  Athens ;  their  heroes,  philosophers  and  bards ;  also  how  we 
came  to  this  land.  To  all  of  which  they  listen  with  eager  eyes  and 
deep  interest.  They  cannot  look  enough  at  the  picture  of  our  great 
ship  Aeolus,  which  hangs  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus.  They  have  built  sev 
eral  boats  on  the  seashore,  and  with  oars  and  small  sails  dexterously 
cleave  the  rolling  waves. 


Harvest  Festival  453 

This  day  is  a  festal  day  in  honor  of  Ceres,  Pomona  and  Flora.  We 
parents  are  not  in  the  parade,  but  the  girls  and  boys  are  now  taking 
our  place.  They  are  accompanied  by  music.  Each  boy  and  girl  is  deco 
rated  with  flowers  and  garlands,  each  carrying  some  one  fruit  or 
cereal  in  one  hand,  such  as  henequin,  straw,  ears  of  corn,  grapes,  cocoa- 
nuts,  oranges,  bananas,  cotton  blossoms  or  sugar  cane.  In  the  harvest 
parade  Ceres,  goddess  of  cereals  and  agriculture,  was  represented  by  a 
small  girl.  Her  head  was  crowned  with  a  wreath  of  white  cotton  blos 
soms.  She  headed  the  procession,  sitting  on  a  platform,  carried  by 
four  boys.  On  all  sides  around  her,  on  the  platform,  were  stalks  and 
sheaves  of  various  kinds  of  cereal  grasses. 

Near  the  middle  of  the  procession  the  goddess  Pomona  was  repre 
sented  by  a  small  girl,  also  sitting  on  a  platform,  carried  by  four  boys. 
Her  head  was  crowned  with  grapevines  and  grapes.  She  held  a  large 
cornucopia  filled  to  overflowing  with  cocoanuts,  oranges,  bananas  and 
grapes. 

Flora,  also,  was  represented  by  a  young  girl  whose  raiment  was 
completely  covered  with  various  kinds  of  flowers,  and  the  platform  she 
occupied,  which  was  also  carried  by  four  boys,  was  handsomely  deco 
rated  with  flowers  in  profusion. 

The  procession  marched  into  the  Temple  of  Zeus,  where  the  god 
desses  took  a  position  near  the  altar. 

After  quiet  reigned,  Orato  held  a  lengthy  prayer  of  thanks  to  Ceres, 
Pomona  and  Flora.  Following  the  worship  of  the  three  goddesses  a 
banquet  spread  took  place,  at  which  the  various  things  of  the  harvest 
were  partaken  of,  including  wines. 

As  usual,  songs  in  praise  of  Ceres,  also  of  Pomona  and  Flora,  were 
sung  and  accompanied  by  music.  Also  questions  were  put  to  the  young 
people  which  fruit  they  liked  best,  giving  reasons,  and  stating  how  its 
leaves  looked  and  how  the  plant  grew.  The  feast  in  honor  of  the 
three  goddesses  concluded  with  dancing,  each  dancer  displaying  some 
one  kind  of  cereal  or  fruit  on  their  apparel  or  hair,  such  as  a  nut  of 
some  kind,  corn,  cotton  blossom,  flowers  or  grapes. 

Shortly  after  Phoebus  had  sunk  down  the  west  abyss  of  the  world, 
the  harvest  festival  came  to  an  end. 

Scriborites:  It  is  now  a  year  since  the  last  harvest  festival  was 
held.  At  this  day's  festival  I  am  not  inclined  to  add  much  to  the 
record  rolls.  I  am  not  the  only  one  whose  general  energy  is  gradually 
growing  less,  evaporating  with  the  heat,  as  it  were;  but  the  warm 
climate  affects  many  of  the  others  even  in  a  far  greater  degree.  Prepa 
rations  to  celebrate  this  harvest  festival  have  been  made  as  usual, 
but  many  of  our  citizens  are  hunting  and  trapping  and  fishing  in  the 
forests  for  days  at  a  time,  and  are  taking  less  interest  in  Athenian 
affairs  as  time  passes  on.  Women,  boys  and  girls  also  show  a  strong 


454  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

preference  for  the  life  in  the  woods.  The  participation  in  the  games, 
sports  and  contests  and  also  harvest  festivals,  as  again  seen  this  day, 
is  growing  less  and  less.  The  harvest  parade  has  entered  the  Temple 
of  Zeus.  After  Orato  concluded  his  prayer  of  thanks  to  Ceres,  Pomona 
and  Flora,  also  Phoebus,  Juventonius,  a  botanist  versed  in  plants  and 
climate,  ascended  the  rostrum,  near  the  altar,  and  said: 

"Fellow  Athenians :  Yes,  I  still  have  an  opportunity  to  address 
you  as  fellow  Athenians,  but  if  Athenians  are  going  to  grow  less  and 
less  in  evidence,  there  will  soon  be  none  left  to  address  as  'fellow 
Athenians,'  but  rather  as  fellow  bushmen,  trappers,  hunters.  Our 
thoughts  in  regard  to  Grecian  art  are  far  beyond  recall  in  the  long, 
long  ago.  We  were  taught  by  our  Grecian  wise  men  to  make  known 
and  tell  the  truth  under  all  circumstances,  for  truth  leads  out  of  error. 
But  we  all  felt  that  in  one  regard  it  might  not  be  well  to  call  attention 
to  the  truth,  for  it  would  have  a  very  discouraging  effect  upon  our 
energies  and  efforts.  But  under  the  present  disintegrating  condition  of 
Athonia,  there  is  at  this  late  stage  nothing  to  lose,  but  perhaps  still 
some  hope  left  to  gain  by  recognizing  the  truth.  I  shall  speak  out  the 
truth  in  regard  to  our  hot  climate. 

"At  about  the  time  when  we  established  the  city  of  Athonia,  I  was 
appointed  to  make  botanical  researches  in  regard  to  the  flora  of  the 
surrounding  country  on  which  we  were  cast.  I  found  it  very  interest 
ing,  and  exhibited  to  you  many  indigenous  trees,  plants,  shrubs  and 
flowers.  During  my  first  botanical  ramble  in  upland  and  lowland 
forests,  I  seldom  met  any  of  our  citizens  trapping,  fishing  or  hunting 
in  the  forests.  But  as  time  went  on  the  number  of  our  citizens  who 
pass  most  of  their  time  in  the  forests  pursuing  the  chase  grew  visibly. 
The  haunts  of  the  bear,  wolf,  coyote,  deer,  rabbit,  squirrel,  beaver, 
jaguar,  puma,  ocelot  and  fish  are  quite  well  known  by  the  majority  of 
our  citizens.  Some  of  our  hunters  have  lately  seen  in  a  distant  forest 
opening  a  large  new  animal,  similar  to  oxen,  but  much  larger  in  size. 
It  has  a  massive  head,  covered  with  bushy  hair,  from  beneath  which 
two  fierce  eyes  look  forth.  Our  hunters  pursued  a  herd  of  them,  but 
their  fleetness  baffled  pursuit.  They  have  named  the  beast  bison.  They 
are  are  so  large  and  ponderous  that  their  running  makes  the  ground 
tremble.  To  kill  one  of  them  is  now  considered  as  a  feat  of  renown. 
The  large  amount  of  various  kinds  of  wild  game  which  is  brought  in 
by  hunters  and  trappers  is  more  than  required  in  this  hot  climate,  and 
also  shows  that  the  inclination  for  hunting  and  trapping  prevails  quite 
generally  among  all  the  Four  Hundred,  to  the  detriment  of  a  higher 
development  of  our  city  of  Athonia.  If  we  do  not  make  strenuous 
efforts  against  a  growing  fondness  of  the  bushman'g  life,  our  city, 
instead  of  progressing,  will  soon  be  a  deserted  city. 

"The  children  of  Athonia  also  are  showing  great  leanings  towards 


Inclined  to  Hunting  and  Fishing  455 

living  the  life  of  nomads  and  hunters.  We  are  getting  further  and 
further  away  from  our  Athenian  spirit  for  a  higher  city  life. 

"To  inspire  our  children  with  a  love  of  the  beautiful  in  art  is  en 
tirely  beyond  hope  and  belongs  to  the  impossible.  We,  the  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens,  are  fast  becoming  less  and  less  Grecian,  and  our  boys 
and  girls,  as  it  seems  now,  will  be  anything  but  Greeks.  We  have 
already  drifted  away  from  our  Greek  ideas,  including  our  worship 
also,  for  Orato  this  day  in  his  prayers  gave  the  highest  and  first  place 
to  Phoebus  (Sun),  scarcely  alluding  to  Zeus,  and  entirely  overlooking 
all  our  other  Olympian  gods.  The  tendency  of  all  things  in  our  Athonia 
is  going  in  the  wrong  direction.  All,  in  fine  sounding  phrases,  agree 
that  we  should  make  urgent  effort,  in  an  Athenian-Grecian  spirit,  to 
ward  art  and  city  life.  But  it  also  seems  as  if  all  had  agreed  to  do 
the  very  opposite  to  what  they  preach. 

"Our  health  officer  also  says  it  is  the  hot  climate  that  has  created 
a  longing  and  preference  for  living  in  the  woods.  He  has  lost  all  hope 
of  preserving  our  high  standard,  especially  in  regard  to  our  new  gen 
eration.  We  cannot  help  but  admit  that  in  this  land  it  is  impossible  to 
carry  out  the  high  ideals  of  the  typical  Grecian  race,  as  was  first  so 
enthusiastically  planned. 

"From  our  experience  here  for  over  sixteen  years,  we  know  that  the 
climate  is  intensely  hot  here  nearly  all  the  time.  In  my  botanical 
rambles  from  the  first  I  saw  from  the  kinds  and  luxurious  growths  of 
plant  life  that  we  were  surrounded  by  a  tropical  climate. 

"We  cannot  really  find  fault  with  ourselves  or  our  boys  and  girls, 
for  in  this  climate  no  race  of  men  can  aspire  to  such  heights  in  regard 
to  art  and  learning  as  the  people  of  our  never-again-to-be-seen  Greece. 

"Our  philosophers  taught  us  that  one  of  the  principal  secrets  of  the 
superior  excellencies  of  the  Grecian,  especially  the  Athenian,  race  was 
the  pure,  clear,  exhilarating,  bracing  air  of  that  country.  'Truly  are 
we  the  favored  of  the  gods,'  said  one  of  our  Athenian  philosophers, 
'for  t'ie  very  air  we  breathe,  and  by  which  we  have  our  being,  stimu 
lates  us  with  an  insatiable  desire  and  enthusiasm  for  noble  achieve 
ments  in  war  and  peace.' 

"The  climate  of  Athens  kindled  desire  for  bodily  and  mental  labor. 
No  one  there  can  remain  inactive. 

"But  the  climate  of  this  unknown  land,  on  which  we  have  been 
cast,  produces  the  very  opposite  effect.  It  is  so  hot  that  the  first  man 
and  woman  might  have  been  created  here,  for  they  would  not  have 
stood  in  need  of  raiment,  and  the  fruit  of  bush  and  tree  only  need 
picking.  It  seems  clear  to  us  now  that  the  influence  of  climate  can 
make  or  unmake  a  people,  can  raise  or  lower  a  race.  In  one  sense 
it  seems  true  that  the  more  Nature  does  for  man,  the  less  man  will 
do  for  himself.  Seeking  the  shade  is  one  of  our  pastimes.  Not  only 


456  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

bodily  or  mental  labor  do  we  all  shun,  but  our  games,  sports  and 
festivities  require  more  exertion  than  our  inclinations  hanker  for,  and 
will  soon  be  obsolete.  One  of  our  noble  Athenians,  while  looking  at 
one  of  us  working,  expressed  our  situation  clearly  and  truly  when  he 
said:  'In  this  hot  climate,  how  restful  it  is  to  see  others  work!'  Al 
though  we  have  lived  here  over  sixteen  years,  we  never,  until  this 
festal  day,  have  alluded  openly  to  the  unfavorable  influence  the  cli 
mate  exerts  on  us.  Our  boys  and  girls  have  done  well,  considering 
conditions.  (Applause.)  They  have  built  several  small  row  and  sail 
boats  on  the  shore  of  the  stormy  sea  and  can  manage  them  as  well 
as  Athenian  fishermen.  (Applause.)  They  may,  in  many  moons  to 
come,  sail  along  the  shores  of  our  unknown  land  on  short  voyages 
of  discovery.  (Great  applause.)  But  the  fact  remains  that  the  hot 
climate  is  hostile  to  energy,  ambition,  desire  for  exertion,  labor  and 
learning. 

"Fellow  Athenians,  in  conclusion,  I  want  to  say,  it  remains  to  be 
seen  whether  we  can  rally  and  recall  our  former  Grecian  strength, 
energy  and  ambition.  If  we  cannot,  or  if  the  Fates  have  decreed  that 
we  shall  not,  then  soon  we  will  not  be  on  a  much  higher  standard 
than  bushmen.  Fellow  Athenians,  let  us  hope  that  we  can  again  rally 
from  our  lethargy,  as  true  Grecians,  to  the  greatness  and  glory  of 
Athonia."  (Applause.) 

Valdoris  also  arose  and  said:  "Fellow  Athenians,  noble  Juven- 
tonius  has  spoken  the  truth.  The  truth  is  often  very  disagreeable 
to  hear;  the  same  as  some  medicinal  herbs  are  bitter  to  take,  but  in 
some  cases  necessary  to  effect  a  cure.  We  have  all  known  that  we 
are  drifting  into  the  woods.  Our  high  resolve  to  establish  a  nation 
here,  the  standard  of  which  should  be  beyond  that  of  all  other  nations 
of  the  world,  of  which  poets  and  bards  would  delight  to  sing,  may 
now  be  likened  unto  an  idle  dream.  We  will  remember  what  one  of 
our  instructors  at  Athens  said:  'Tell  me  the  soil  and  climate  of  a 
country,  and  I  will  tell  you  the  possible  height  of  the  standing  of  its 
people.'  He  said  in  regard  to  climate:  'The  golden  mean  also  holds 
true — neither  sweltering  heat  nor  extreme  cold.'  As  to  our  laws,  it  was 
not  their  fault  that  our  high  ambitious  hopes  were  not  realized,  for 
they  are  based  on  true  individual  liberty.  But  as  noble  Juventonious 
said,  the  climate  has  caused  our  Grecian  energy,  stamina,  enthusiasm 
and  high  ambition  to  flee  beyond  all  hope  of  recall.  We  all  know  also 
that  the  fierce,  terrible  earthquakes  that  have,  of  late,  greatly  dam 
aged  our  Temple  of  Zeus,  destroyed  a  few  and  damaged  many  of  our 
houses,  have  also  quickened  the  longing  for  living  a  careless,  free  life 
in  the  forest.  Yes,  the  terrible  earthquakes  and  climate  are  enough 
to  create  a  longing  for  a  bushman's  life  in  even  the  highest  of  the 
human  race.  Fellow  Athenians,  all  I  can  see  is  that  we  must  resign 


Athonian   Youths  Build  a  Ship  457 

ourselves  to  Fate,  and  live  in  harmony  with  the  natural  order  and 
inclination  of  things.  One  fact  cannot  but  please  us  all — that  the 
energy,  eagerness  and  ambition  displayed  by  our  girls  and  boys  is  still 
quite  Greek-like."  (Applause.) 

Scriborites:  It  is  true,  as  Juveutonious,  and  also  Valdoris,  said, 
that  even  Orato  in  his  prayers  worships  Phoebus  beyond  our  other 
Olympian  gods.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  harvest  banquet,  which 
followed  Valdoris's  address,  all  passed  out  of  the  Temple  of  Zeus  to 
view  the  boys'  and  girls'  military  drill,  at  the  close  of  which  all  the 
boys  and  girls,  also  men  and  women,  accompanied  by  the  musicians, 
sang  the  sunset  song.  Thus  again  has  passed  away  another  harvest 
festival,  which,  in  view  of  the  small  number  that  participated  therein, 
was  hardly  worthy  of  its  name. 

Scriborites:  Although  it  is  over  five  moons  since  last  harvest 
festival,  the  boys  have  not  forgotten  Juventonious's  favorable  com 
ment  on  their  seamanship.  The  boys  and  girls  also  have  asked  me, 
as  their  teacher,  to  again  relate  to  them  our  adventure  across  the 
stormy  sea  to  this  land,  which  I  did.  There  is  nothing  which  they 
like  to  listen  to  with  so  much  eagerness,  earnestness  and  close  atten 
tion  as  to  the  narrative  of  how  we  were  saved  from  sailing  over  the 
end  of  the  world  by  the  Fates,  which  directed  our  ship  so  as  to  be 
wrecked  on  these  shores  instead.  The  boys  say  they  have  built  a 
much  larger  boat  than  any  of  their  other  boats.  It  has  two  masts  and 
a  house  on  it  large  enough  to  hold  twelve  men.  On  the  inside  bottom 
of  the  boat  is  a  large,  tight  water  box  to  hold  fresh  water.  This  they 
adopted  from  my  narrative  of  the  construction  of  the  great  ship 
Aeolus.  They  say  their  ship  has  one  sail  on  each  mast  and  one  jib 
in  front.  The  three  sails  were  made  of  one  of  the  smallest  of  the 
Aeolus's  sails,  which  was  stored  in  the  Temple  of  Zeus.  The  boat, 
they  say,  is  built  of  cedar,  because  it  is  a  light  wood  and  is  easier  to 
split  into  long  lengths  to  fashion  into  planks.  All  planks  are  strongly 
fastened  together  with  oaken  bolts.  They  also  have  a  small  rainbow 
flag.  They  admit  the  Aeolus  must  have  been  a  much  larger  ship,  but 
to  their  eyes  their  ship  is  a  great  ship  also. 

They  say  our  ship  was  named  in  honor  of  the  god  of  the  winds. 
Their  ship  they  have  named  "Poseidon,"  in  honor  of  the  god  of  the  sea. 

They  have  been  working  in  building  it  on  some  unobserved  place 
along  the  shore  for  many  moons.  Now,  they  say,  they  are  ready  to 
sail  anywhere  and  everywhere.  They  have  already,  they  say,  sailed 
almost  out  of  sight  of  land.  They  claim  that  they  have  sailed  out 
along  shore  in  the  strongest  of  storms,  and  that  the  boat  was  not  in 
danger  of  the  storm's  fury.  It  rises  and  falls  with  the  high  waves 
like  a  duck.  They  invited  me  to  accompany  them  in  their  boat  for  a 
short  sail  out  on  the  sea  along  the  shore.  They  will  name  the  day.  I, 


458  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

of  course,  as  their  teacher,  who  have  spoken  and  told  them  so  much 
of  our  past  courage  in  order  to  instill  courage  into  them,  must  accept 
their  invitation  to  accompany  them  for  a  short  sail  on  the  treacherous, 
restless  sea. 

I  am  not  anxious  for  their  day  to  come  around,  for  we  have  been 
on  the  sea  longer  than  we  cared  for,  which  has  banished  in  my  heart 
all  longing  for  the  sea.  When  the  scholars  call  for  me  to  accompany 
them,  I  will  make  strenuous  efforts  to  carry  myself  as  a  fearless 
seaman. 

Scriborites:  Only  a  few  days  ago  I  made  record  of  the  fact  that 
some  of  my  scholars  had  built  a  sailboat.  But  now  I  shall  hasten  to 
record  a  far  more  important  and  surprising  event.  Early  in  the  morn 
ing  drums  and  trumpets  and  horns  called  all  of  us  Athenians  to  arms. 
All  hastened,  clad  in  war  armor,  carrying  bows,  lances  and  war  clubs 
with  shields,  to  the  open  temple  place  in  front  of  the  Temple  of  Zeus. 
All  responded  to  the  call  to  arms  as  quickly  as  possible  to  show 
that  we  still  had  some  Grecian  life  left.  On  arriving  there,  we  found 
our  people  greatly  excited  on  account  of  the  presence  of  a  stranger, 
who  was  standing  alongside  of  Marstenes.  He  was  clad  completely 
with  gaudy  feathers,  also  a  helmet  of  long  feathers  wore  he  on  his 
head.  Some  said  the  stranger  had  come  during  the  night. 

All  was  excitement,  for  many  said,  "If  there  is  one  stranger  on  the 
land,  who  can  know  how  many  more  there  may  be?"  Many  said, 
"Who  is  it?  What  is  it?" 

All  the  time  the  horns  and  drums  were  calling  to  arms  loudly  for 
all  to  gather  at  the  temple  grounds.  The  eight  catapults  of  our  ship 
Aeolus  also  responded  to  the  call.  The  women  also,  upen  hearing  that 
a  stranger  had  made  his  appearance,  came  in  haste,  clad  in  the  ship's 
armor,  helmet  and  carrying  bows  and  arrows. 

Some  said,  "Marstenes  seems  to  be  able  to  talk  to  him."  So  far 
the  horns  and  drums  called  loudly  to  arms.  Marstenes  and  the  stran 
ger  seemed  to  look  calmly  at  the  crowd.  Upon  seeing  that  no  more 
were  coming  and  that  all,  excepting  those  who  were  hunting  in  the 
forests,  had  responded  to  the  call,  Marstenes  said : 

"Fellow  Athenians,  we  always  thought  that  we  were  the  only 
people  of  this  great  unknown  land ;  but  the  presence  of  a  noble  stranger 
seems  to  show  that  there  are  others  besides  ourselves.  In  order  thai 
we  can  all  hear  more  plainly  than  in  the  open  what  our  stranger  has 
to  say,  we  will  all  march  in  military  order  into  the  Temple  of  Zeus. 

"I  appoint  Rosania  to  command  the  women,  boys  and  girls,  and  I 
will  command  the  men." 

After  all  were  formed  into  line,  Marstenes  gave  the  order,  "For 
ward,  march !" 


A  Bushman  Appears  Upon  the  Scene  459 

The  stranger  walked  alongside  of  Marstenes.  He  carried  a  lance 
and  a  short  sword,  but  held  them  in  such  a  way  that  indicated  peace. 

To  the  step  of  music  all  soon  were  in  the  temple,  taking  seats  in 
military  order.  Marstenes  and  the  chief  of  wild  men,  as  he  appeared 
to  be,  ascended  the  rostrum  to  the  left  of  the  altar. 

Orato,  from  the  altar,  near  the  incense  ascending,  prayed  to  Phoebus 
to  give  us  light  for  the  reason  of  the  mysterious  stranger's  presence 
here.  He  prayed  to  Phoebus  to  deliver  us  from  the  evil  designs  of  the 
stranger,  if  he  had  any,  and  prayed  that  the  presence  of  our  mysterious 
stranger  might  conduce  to  the  greatness  and  glory  of  Athonia. 

Next  the  music  played  "The  Persians — Where  Are  They?"  after 
which  Marstenes  arose  and  slowly  said,  amidst  great  silence: 

"Fellow  Athenians!  At  midnight,  I  heard  a  tapping — a  gentle  rap 
ping — at  my  door;  rapping  like  which  I  never  heard  before.  It  was 
from  the  first  mysterious.  I  peeped  then  through  the  door,  and  in 
the  clear  moonlight  saw  a  form  I  never  saw  before.  He  rapped  again 
and  then  once  more,  but  still  I  opened  not  the  door.  He  spoke  and 
called  me  by  my  name.  A  thrill  shot  through  my  Grecian  frame.  He 
called  again  and  louder,  as  if  used  to  command.  A  voice  of  old, 
familiar — O  now  I  understand! 

"Yes,  fellow  Athenians,  when  I  first  beheld,  by  the  light  of  the 
moon,  the  form  of  a  warrior  clad  in  bright,  gaudy  feathers  and 
a  feathery  helmet,  I  could  not  think  that  it  was  a  man  whom  we  all 
so  well  knew.  But  upon  hearing  his  voice,  commanding  like,  it  imme 
diately  recalled  to  mind  the  strong,  seamanlike  voice  of  command, 
which  by  day  and  by  night  became  so  familiar  to  us  while  on  our 
great  ship  Aeolus,  the  voice  of  our  brave  Captain  Arteus,  who  now 
stands  before  you."  (Tremendous  applause.) 

Marstenes  continues:  "Fellow  Athenians,  you  may  well  think  that 
Captain  Arteus  and  myself  passed  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  re 
calling  past  events  and  experiences  and  adventures,  and  also  discussed 
matters  in  regard  to  the  future.  Captain  Arteus  said  he  wished  to 
talk  to  me  as  much  as  possible,  for  he  had  almost  forgotten  to  talk 
the  Greek  language,  for  the  people  he  had  fallen  in  with  in  his  ad- 
Tenture  spoke  an  entirely  different  language.  He  said  he  would  not 
blame  any  one  of  his  listeners  if  they  should  laugh  at  his  very  poor 
Greek.  Captain  Arteus  has,  from  the  day  our  ship  stranded  here, 
which  is  now  over  sixteen  years  ago,  continuously  been  with  bushmen, 
who  speak  an  entirely  different  language.  I  will  not  take  up  any  more 
time;  for  Captain  Arteus  says  he  must  depart  to  his  people  again  the 
coming  night.  Let  me  say  it  is  understood  that  reference  in  regard  to 
the  ship  Aeolus  by  any  of  us  Athenians  is  not  to  be  touched  upon  this 
day.  Fellow  Athenians,  noble  Captain  Arteus  will  now  address  you." 
(Great  applause.) 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


CAPTAIN  ARTEUS  SPEAKS 

Captain  Arteus,  standing  in  his  picturesque  dress  of  bright,  gaudy 
feathers,  with  helmet  of  bright  feathers,  said:  "Fellow  adventurers, 
I  cannot  say  how  long  ago  it  is,  but  noble  Marstenes  says  it  is  over 
sixteen  years  since  Hilicarus,  Anaxogerous,  Polybus,  myself  and  our 
ship's  crew  left  you  here  and  proceeded  westward  on  our  way  towards 
the  end  of  the  world,  where  we,  under  oath,  desired  to  sail  or  jump 
off  the  earth.  We  wandered  westward  in  the  direction  of  the  setting 
sun.  The  food  which  we  carried  along  from  the  ship  was  partaken 
of  with  other  food  of  various  kinds  of  game  and  fish  which  we  shot  and 
speared.  We  delayed  not,  but  kept  walking  onward  through  forests, 
dense  jungles  and  over  and  through  the  divides  of  mountains,  resting 
only  during  the  night,  when  one  of  our  number  stood  guard  to  protect 
us  from  prowling  jaguars,  bears,  wolves  and  other  ferocious  animals, 
some  of  which  sent  up  hideous  howls  during  a  greater  part  of  the 
night. 

"Up  to  our  eighth  day  we  had  not  met  with  or  seen  any  living 
thing  excepting  animals.  But  on  the  night  of  the  eighth  day  we  saw  a 
fire  on  the  side  of  a  mountain  to  the  northwest.  In  the  darkness  of 
the  night  we  stole  closely  up  to  it,  and  saw  that  there  was  a  tribe 
of  about  three  hundred  wild  men  and  women.  All,  excepting  a  few 
that  were  standing  around  a  fire,  were  lying  around  sleeping  on  the 
skins  of  animals.  Around  the  fire  on  poles  hung  a  bear  and  a  number 
of  rabbits  and  fish.  One  of  our  men  ventured  close  enough  to  hear 
them  talk  to  each  other,  but  he  said  it  was  a  very  strange  language. 
In  the  darkness  of  night  we  hastened  away  on  our  westward  journey, 
rather  preferring  death  by  jumping  off  the  earth  than  to  fall  in  the 
hands  of  those  bloodthirsty  savages  and  suffer  a  torturing  death. 

"After  a  stumbling  march  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night, 
through  dense  jungles,  where  the  hiss  of  large,  venomous  snakes  be 
came  common,  we,  near  the  break  of  day,  arrived  at  a  small  opening, 
surrounded  by  dense  forests.  Feeling  safe  from  the  wild  men,  we 
halted  here  to  rest  and  eat.  We  rested  close  to  the  rim  of  the  forest 
on  the  east  side  of  the  opening,  so  as  to  be  in  the  shade  when  Phoebus 
should  come  upon  the  scene. 

"In  the  east  Aurora  was  just  beginning  to  announce  his  presence. 

460 


Captain  Arteus  Speaks  461 

The  forest  trees  of  various  kinds  and  sizes  that  skirted  the  opening 
were  alive  with  birds  of  the  most  brilliant  and  gorgeous  plumage 
imaginable,  including  plain  brown,  blue,  green  and  bright  red  and 
yellow  parrots  of  various  sizes,  and  an  endless  variety  of  other  kinds 
of  birds  of  most  brilliant  plumage.  But  what  the  plain  brown  and 
gray  birds  lack  in  brilliant  beauty  is  often  made  up  by  their  exquisite 
power  of  song.  The  trees  were  full  of  bird  life.  We  noticed  in  our 
travels  that  when  Aurora  heralds  the  coming  of  day,  the  birds,  awak 
ened  from  the  night's  sleep,  greet  the  rising  sun  with  their  loudest, 
liveliest  songs.  The  various  sweet  songsters  of  the  thousands  of  birds 
seem  to  vie  with  each  other  in  showing  their  delight  at  the  approach  of 
coming  day.  The  exquisite  music  of  the  thousands  of  various  kinds 
of  loud,  lively,  sweet  songsters  moved  our  emotions  even  more  deeply 
than  did  the  surprising  beauty  of  their  brilliant  plumage.  The  lively, 
happy  greeting  of  the  rising  sun  by  the  songsters  of  the  forest  seems 
to  put  man  to  shame;  for  surely  it  would  be  difficult  to  manifest  such 
appreciation,  thanks  and  joy,  as  do  the  birds  at  early  dawn.  I  shall 
refer  to  gorgeous  feathers  later  on,  for  I  noticed  your  eyeing  of  my 
feathery  raiment  from  the  start.  Noble  Athenians,  after  having  rested, 
we  resumed  our  journey  towards  the  setting  sun.  Our  way  led  over 
mountains  and  through  valleys,  with  luxurious  vegetation  of  many 
kinds,  fruits  and  nuts,  as  here  also,  growing  in  a  very  thriving  man 
ner,  offering  food  for  our  sustenance  in  plenty. 

After  a  three  days'  walk  from  our  last  resting  place,  upon  a  morn 
ing  having  reached  the  high  point  of  a  mountain,  we  beheld  before  us, 
to  the  west,  in  close  distance,  to  our  great  surprise,  a  large,  endless 
ocean.  Its  waters  were  calm  and  pacific. 

"We  saw  it  was  a  great  world  ocean,  and  as  we  knew  we  could 
not  build  a  ship  large  enough  that  would  reach  its  limits  at  the  end 
of  the  world,  we  were  convinced  that  the  gods  had  decreed  that  we 
should  remain  upon  earth  like  the  rest  of  mankind,  until,  like  all 
mankind,  we  should  be  called  to  eternal  rest. 

"Standing  on  the  ocean  shore,  Polybus  said:  'Fellow  adventurers, 
if  we  had  a  ship  here  like  the  great  Aeolus  was,  we  would  now  surely 
succeed  in  sailing  over  the  end  of  the  world,  for,  however  large  the 
world's  flat  plain  may  be,  it,  like  all  things,  has  an  end.  But,  fellow 
roamers,  we  are  confronted  with  a  condition,  namely,  that  the  world's 
wide  plain  is  much  larger  than  we  thought  it  was,  and,  secondly,  we 
have  no  ship.  This,  fellow  Athenians,  is  proof  positive  that  the  gods 
desire  us  to  remain  on  earth  among  the  living.  Therefore,  fellow 
rovers,  I  will,  upon  the  shore  of  this  grand,  pacific  sea,  burn  the  last 
of  the  incense  which  I  have  carried  with  me,  as  a  sacrifice  to  our  gods, 
with  our  thanks  (although  we  could  not  successfully  carry  out  our  end) 
for  having  been  fated  to  live  in  a  land  where  the  climate  hardly  re- 


462  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

quires  any  raiment,  and  the  vegetation  is  so  luxurious  that  nuts  and 
fruits  beg  our  picking,  and  game  and  fish  bewilder  the  arrow  and 
lance's  choice.  Fellow  adventurers,  here  we  need  not  crowd  our  brains 
with  that  higher  learning  like  in  Athens.  Here  we  need  not  disturb 
our  brains  with  airy  philosophical  problems  and  useless  speculation. 
Here  we  need  not  delve  in  art,  for  art's  sake.  And,  looking  out  over 
the  grand  expanse  of  the  endless,  pacific  waters  before  us  in  the  west, 
we  can  say  with  pride  in  our  breasts  that  we  are  truly  free  men,  not 
burdened  with  calling  on  one's  ingenuity  and  endless  labor,  in  order  to 
obtain  such  things  which  such  climate  has  in  Greece  made  necessary. 
Yes,  we  thank  the  gods  that  we  are  back  to  Nature.  Fellow  adven 
turers,  who  is  it  that  has  made  this  land  where  man  is  not  bound 
to  the  endless  labor  of  body  and  mind  like  in  other  lands?  Fellow 
adventurers,  it  is  Phoebus,  whose  bright  rays  has  made  the  land  what 
it  is.  Therefore,  O  Phoebus,  may  a  large  share  of  the  incense  arising 
ascend  to  thy  high  abode  and  be  as  sweet  savor  unto  thee.' 

"Thus  spoke  Polybus,  who  is  no  more;  but  of  whom  I  shall  speak 
later  on.  *  *  *  We  all  plunged  in  the  waters  of  the  great  ocean 
for  a  dive  and  swim,  after  the  end  of  which  Hilicarus  suggested  that 
we  all  stand  in  line  and  shout  'Hurrah  for  the  grand  pacific  sea!' 
three  times,  which  we  did. 

"As  night  o'erspread  its  darkness  o'er  land  and  sea,  we  slept  close 
to  the  shore.  In  the  stillness  of  the  night,  as  we  lay  inclined,  we 
heard  and  felt  the  gentle  but  mighty  lapping  pulsations  of  the  great 
sea  along  its  shore.  Its  mighty  pulsations,  lullaby-like,  lulled  us  to 
sleep.  Early  the  next  morning  several  of  our  former  seamen  of  the 
ship  Aeolus,  who  so  far  were  all  with  us,  aroused  us  and  told  us  to 
arm  with  bow  and  spear  as  quickly  as  possible,  for  on  the  ocean's 
shore  to  the  north  a  herd  of  monstrous  beasts,  much  larger  than  oxen, 
were  coming  our  way.  They  also  said  that  they  (our  former  seamen) 
were  going  to  run  in  a  southerly  direction  into  the  woods,  and  that  we 
should  follow,  for  a  large  number  of  wild  men,  or  bushmen,  were 
following  the  wild  animals. 

"Hilicarus,  Polybus,  Anaxogerous  and  myself  donned  our  armor 
and  prepared  ourselves  with  bows,  lances  and  shields  against  beast 
or  man  as  best  we  could,  and,  walking  forward  from  the  side  of  large 
rocks,  we  could  see  the  herd  of  monstrous  oxen  tearing  in  our  direc 
tion  along  the  seashore. 

"We  immediately  saw  that  it  would  be  useless  for  each  one  of  us 
to  try  to  kill  one  beast  each ;  therefore,  we  at  once  agreed  to  send  our 
arrows  and  spears  of  all  into  one  and  the  same  animal.  They  came 
thundering  onward,  and  as  they  passed  the  rocks,  on  the  side  of  which 
we  had  hidden,  we  all  four  sent  arrows  and  lances  into  one  of  the 
monstrous  beasts.  It  stumbled,  fell  and  lay  helpless  on  the  ground, 


Captain  Arteus  Speaks  463 

and  with  an  extra  lance  thrust  it  expired.  Shortly  after  over  one 
hundred  wild  men,  who  had  pursued  the  beasts,  came  upon  the  scene. 
Our  presence  surprised  them  so  that  they  did  not  follow  the  great 
animals,  but  stopped  and  looked  in  a  threatening  manner  at  us.  They 
immediately  claimed  the  bison,  to  which,  according  to  hunters'  laws, 
they  were  in  a  degree  entitled,  for  it  was  their  pursuit  that  made  our 
killing  it  possible.  We  walked  back  and  stood  against  the  high  stone 
rocks,  making  gestures  to  them  showing  that  we  did  not  claim  the 
large  bison,  but  that  it  belonged  to  them. 

"As  we  stood  close  together  against  the  rocks,  two  of  the  chiefs 
came  close  in  front  of  us,  talking  and  acting  in  a  threatening  manner. 
We  tried  to  display  an  appearance  of  friendship,  but  one  of  the  young 
bushmen  threw  a  large  sized  stone,  grazing  Hilicarus's  lance. 

"Hilicarus  said,  in  an  angry  tone:  'I'm  going  to  challenge  any  one 
of  them  to  a  free  hand  combat.'  Hilicarus  threw  down  his  weapons  on 
the  ground  alongside  the  rock  and  rushed  out  to  an  open  space,  and, 
free  handed,  challenged  any  one  of  the  bushmen  to  a  free  handed 
combat. 

"One  of  the  young  bushmen  rushed  toward  Hilicarus  with  a  raised 
stone  war  club. 

"Hilicarus  grabbed  the  handle  of  the  war  club,  tore  it  away  from 
the  bushman,  and  threw  it  with  all  his  might  almost  into  the  sea. 
Several  other  bushmen  rushed  up  with  raised  war  clubs.  The  chief 
also  ran  up  to  Hilicarus,  shouting  and  talking  in  a  very  loud  voice. 
The  bushmen  desisted  in  their  determination  of  striking  Hilicarus  as 
the  chief,  by  gestures,  made  it  known  to  Hilicarus  that  he  should. go 
back  to  the  rest  of  us,  which  he  did. 

"The  bushmen  surrounded  us  to  show  us  that  we  were  entirely 
at  their  mercy.  They  held  a  council,  it  seems,  after  which  four  of 
their  principal  men  stood  in  front  of  us;  then  threw  their  war  clubs 
back  of  them  on  the  ground,  and  walked  up  to  us  and  made  it  known 
that  we  should  disarm  and  give  them  our  lances  and  bows,  which  we 
all  agreed  to  do  as  we  understood  they  would  not  kill  us.  We  kept 
our  short  swords  in  such  a  way  that  they  could  not  see  them.  They 
made  us  understand  that  we  should  walk  with  them,  which  we  did, 
in  a  northerly  direction  along  the  sea  shore.  To  keep  our  bronze 
swords  hidden  while  walking  required  our  close  attention.  After  a 
half  day's  walk  we  arrived  at  the  camping  grounds,  where  their  squaws, 
with  earthen  jars  over  fires,  were  preparing  food  of  corn  and  various 
kinds  of  game.  They  were  delighted  on  seeing  the  big  dead  bison, 
which  was  hauled  into  camp  on  large  branches  of  trees  which  had  been 
covered  with  smaller  green  branches.  We  were  not  asked  to  assist  in 
hauling  the  bison  to  the  camp.  They  pointed  to  us  to  eat  with  them 
and  urged  us  to  eat  all  we  desired.  They,  in  various  ways,  made  it 


464  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

known  to  us  that  we  should  belong  to  their  tribe  and  that  they 
would  not  kill  us. 

"We  soon  learned  their  language,  which  has  far  less  words  than 
our  Greek  language,  and  we  soon  felt  and  were  looked  upon  as  being 
one  of  their  tribe.  We  made  it  known  to  them  that  we  wanted  to  keep 
our  Grecian  armor  and  bronze  helmets,  to  which  they  reluctantly  con 
sented. 

"Our  seamen,  to  which  I  will  now  refer,  upon  seeing  the  wild  men 
pursuing  the  herd  of  bison,  ran  in  a  southerly  direction  into  the  woods, 
as  already  stated.  They  had  no  bronze  swords  or  armor  like  we  four 
had.  They  ran  in  the  opposite  direction — south,  and  we  were  required 
to  walk  in  a  northerly  direction;  so  we  never  heard  of  them  again. 

"After  about  two  moons  our  chief  called  us  four,  Hilicarus,  Anax- 
ogerous,  Polybus  and  myself,  and  said  each  of  us  warriors  should  have 
one  or  more  wives  and  that  we  could  take  our  choice  from  among  six 
teen  of  his  daughters,  whom  he  marched  before  us.  We  four  agreed 
among  us  which  one  each  of  us  should  select,  and  we  chose  one  for  our 
wife  accordingly.  Each  of  the  maidens  selected  rushed  up  to  us  and 
kissed  us  so  warmly,  affectionately,  persistently,  until  we  gently  held 
them  in  our  embrace  so  that  they  could  not  stir.  We  saw  from  their 
longing,  sparkling  eyes  and  warm  affection  that  we  were  truly  loved. 

"Around  the  fire  in  the  night  a  wedding  celebration  followed  by  the 
tribe,  by  marching,  dancing  and  shouting  and  making  noises  of  all 
kinds.  From  that  time  we  became  real  members  of  the  tribe,  which  I 
still  am  and  always  will  be.  Our  tribe  has  over  one  thousand  war 
riors. 

"At  present  the  combined  strength,  with  three  additional  tribes 
that  live  in  other  lands,  is  over  three  thousand  warriors.  The  union 
and  peace  of  four  tribes  was  brought  about  by  my  effort.  Not  long 
in  the  first  year,  I  believe,  after  we  had  become  real  members  of  the 
tribe,  our  chief  said  we  ought  to  go  north  and  attack  a  hostile  tribe. 
We  asked  him  what  we  would  gain  by  going  to  war  with  that  tribe. 
He  said  it  would  teach  the  young  men  to  fight.  We  advised  delay. 
He  said  if  we  don't  start  a  war  they  will  start  one  some  time,  per 
haps  not  far  distant. 

"We  said  let  us  first  consider  the  matter,  but  advised  that  it  would 
be  well  to  be  ready  for  a  successful  defence. 

"Polybus  informed  our  chief  that  I  had  been  captain  of  a  large 
ship  and  also  was  a  great  commander  of  men  in  war.  Our  chief  said 
I  should  speak  thereof. 

"I  told  him  that  in  the  land  of  our  fathers,  which  was  far  to  the 
east  across  a  great  wild  world  ocean,  where  they  know  not,  nor  ever 
would  of  this  land,  that  the  warriors  are  all  clad  in  armor  and  have 
bronze  weapons  and  also  catapults;  that  they  march  under  command 


Captain  Arteus  Speaks  465 

in  military  war  order,  which  was  a  good  way  to  fight  in  battle. 

"He  said  I  could  teach  and  command  his  warriors  to  form  in  rows 
for  battle  as  I  had  described  to  him. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  as  I  may  still  this  day  be  pleased  to  call 
you,  the  military  maneuvers  which  I  am  able  to  command  I  learned 
from  observing  noble  Marstenes  commanding  you,  in  your  march  and 
various  military  movements  on  our  ill-fated  ship  Aeolus.  (Applause.) 
I  drilled  the  warriors,  in  which  they  all  showed  delight  and  pleasure. 
Our  chief  was  well  pleased  and  said  now  we  ought  to  attack  the  enemy 
to  the  north.  But  we  delayed.  Our  chief  was  too  old  to  fight,  he  said, 
but  I  should  act  as  chief.  We  had  not  long  to  wait  I  had  advised 
that  our  tribe  should  always  have  outposts  at  all  times  so  that  we 
would  at  no  time  be  taken  by  surprise. 

"At  dawn  one  of  our  outposts  from  the  north  rushed  in  and  aroused 
our  tribe  with  a  cry  of  'Quiche!  Quiche!  Quiche!' 

"Our  chief  rushed  to  me  and  said  I  should  assist  in  commanding 
the  warriors.  He  so  also  informed  the  other  warriors.  I  said  Hili- 
carus,  Anaxogerous  and  Polybus  ought  to  assist  me  also  in  command. 
He  assented. 

"I,  Hilicarus,  Anaxogerous  and  Polybus  formed  our  warriors  in 
lines  for  battle,  ready  to  receive  the  enemy.  We  all  lay  down  in 
military  order  on  the  south  side  on  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  when 
the  enemy  was  nearing  the  top  of  the  hill  from  the  north  I  gave  com 
mand  to  storm  in  strong  phalanx  and  battle  against  the  upcoming 
enemy. 

"The  enemy,  surprised  at  our  orderly  determination  and  seeing  that 
their  dead  were  covering  the  grounds  of  the  slanting  hill,  and  that  our 
warriors  were  being  led  by  strangers  clad  in  armor  and  defended  by 
shields,  they  turned  about  and  fled  with  our  warriors  in  close  pursuit. 

"Anaxogerous  was  killed  in  the  battle  and  Polybus  was  badly 
wounded,  but  recovered.  Anaxogerous,  Hilicarus,  Polybus  and  myself 
killed  many  of  the  enemy  with  our  bronze  swords,  the  possession  of 
which  until  then  had  not  been  even  known  of  by  our  own  warriors. 

"Our  bushmen  warriors  were  surprised  to  see  the  many  arrows 
and  lances  that  struck  us  glance  away  from  our  armor  and  helmets. 
Also  our  bronze  shields  made  many  arrows  and  lances  stay  their 
course  of  death. 

"Our  victory  was  so  complete  that  our  chief  appointed  me  to  be 
active  chief  of  the  tribe,  which  I  am  to  this  day. 

"Our  chief,  shortly  after,  died  of  old  age. 

"I  will  not  speak  to  you  of  all  the  adventures  we  went  through 
during  these  seventeen  years;  that  would  take  days.  But  only  wish 
to  narrate  that  during  these  many  years  our  tribe  has  been  in  many 
bloody  wars  with  different  tribes  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 


466  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

At  times  we  would  attack;  at  other  times  we  would  be  attacked  by 
some  of  the  other  tribes.  Seeing  that  neither  of  the  tribes  gained  by 
the  wars,  I  managed  to  call  a  council  of  three  of  the  principal  chiefs, 
who  had  always  been  our  enemies,  and  it  was  agreed  to  keep  peace 
between  our  four  tribes  and  combine  in  times  of  war  against  any 
chief  who  should  attack  any  one  of  the  tribes  forming  our  combina 
tion.  They  selected  me  as  their  chief  of  chiefs. 

"Hilicarus  is  now  chief  of  one  of  the  tribes  in  a  distant  land. 

"Polybus,  who  was  the  magician  of  our  ship,  and  who  was  so  well 
known  to  you  all,  came  to  an  untimely  death  many  years  ago.  I  had 
often  told  him  he  had  better  not  perform  tricks  of  magic  to  the  bush- 
men,  as  it  might  lead  to  his  death.  But  he  said,  'Just  wait.  My 
feats  of  magic  will  make  them  think  and  look  at  me  as  a  god.' 

"  'Twas  true  at  first ;  they  thought  he  was  god-like.  But  later  on, 
seeing  that  he  was  in  many  respects  very  human,  his  magic  only 
created  suspicion  and  fear.  Standing  upon  the  precipice,  viewing  a 
great  roaring  cataract,  one  of  the  young  natives  pushed  him  down  into 
the  foaming  river,  and  we  never  saw  him  again.  I  called  the  young 
native  to  account,  but  he  said  they  all  told  him  to  do  it  for  all  said 
he  was  a  demon  in  human  form. 

"Fellow,  or  rather,  noble  Four  Hundred,  as  I  remember  you  best 
by,  as  a  seaman,  I  also  on  this  land  took  bearings  by  the  Phonecian 
star  (North  Star),  and  although  very  far  distant,  I  always  had  a  dim 
idea  in  what  direction  the  shore  lay  on  which  our  ship  was  wrecked. 
Knowing,  quite  certain,  that  you  would  build  a  city  near  there,  I 
pointed  my  nose  hitherward.  A  large  herd  of  bison  was  pursued  by 
some  of  our  tribe,  including  myself.  Upon  looking  at  the  Phoenician 
star  I  reckoned  that  I  was  about  five  days  walk  from  your  city,  if  you 
had  built  one.  Not  expecting  ever  to  come  within  so  near  a  distance 
again  I  concluded  to  try  to  see  if  I  could  once  more  see  you,  and  per 
haps  be  of  some  good  to  you  also.  It  took  me  over  seven  days,  instead 
of  five,  to  walk  here,  and  I  walked  as  fast  as  I  could;  also  the 
greater  part  of  the  nights.  On  the  sixth  day  I  intended  to  abandon 
my  walk,  for  I  felt  uncertain  of  my  success.  But  as  I  was  about  to 
return  I  saw  smoke  arising  above  the  trees  in  the  far  distance.  I 
walked  thither  and  saw  a  hunter  sitting  near  a  fire,  I  immediately 
saw  it  was  no  bushman,  but  one  of  our  Grecian  race.  I  did  not  make 
my  presence  known.  I  waited  and  followed  his  tracks  in  the  even 
ing.  I  remained  out  of  sight  until  midnight  as  I  wished  first  to  see 
and  talk  with  noble  Marstenes  alone. 

"I  told  my  tribe  I  would  be  gone  for  a  whole  moon,  perhaps,  and 
that  they  should  not  hunt  for  me,  for  I  would  surely  return. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  I  see  you  have  no  walls  around 
your  city.  I  also  know  that  you  could,  with  your  catapults  and  your 


Captain  Arteus  Speaks  467 

superior  bronze  implements  of  war,  also  superior  bows  and  lances, 
defend  yourselves  against  any  one  tribe  of  bushmen  that  I  so  far 
have  met.  But  it  could  not  be  done  without  loss  of  life,  which  would 
be  too  bad  to  happen  to  any  of  the  noble  Four  Hundred. 

"It  is,  as  Marstenes  said,  there  are  several  tribes  of  people  living 
in  this  great,  unknown  land,  although  they  so  far  have  lived  and 
roamed  at  a  great  distance  from  here.  I  can  swear  by  the  oath  of  the 
gods,  as  you  call  it  (although  we  swear  by  the  sun),  that  Hilicarus  and 
myself  shall  keep  our  people  as  far  away  from  you  as  possible.  Nor 
will  they,  through  us,  ever  know  that  there  lives  a  people  here. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred,  I  shall,  when  I  meet  with  Hilicarus  again, 
tell  him  all  I  saw  and  heard  here  in  your  city  of  Athonia,  and  he  will 
be  greatly  interested  and  deeply  pleased  to  know  that  you  can  view 
Phoebus  and  that  you  have  a  city  here  and  are,  as  always,  still  the 
noble,  beautiful  Four  Hundred,  whom  he  also  highly  admired.  (Ap 
plause.)  Also,  of  your  very  handsome,  beautiful  boys  and  girls,  will  I 
tell  him.  Long  will  I  and  Hilicarus  talk  over  past  events  with  our  sin 
cere  wish  for  the  welfare  of  the  Noble  Four  Hundred,  always.  (Ap 
plause.)  Whether  life  is  more  to  you  than  to  us,  who  live  a  life  of  real 
freedom,  I  can  not  say.  You  live  on  a  higher  plane,  'tis  true,  and  study 
philosophy  and  art;  but  which  life  is  preferable,  our  wild,  natural  life 
or  your  higher  life,  as  it  may  be  called,  I  can  not  say. 

"But  as  for  me,  I  would  wish  no  better  life  than  the  free  life  that 
I  have  lived  since  last  I  saw  you.  I  know  that  Hilicarus  and  myself, 
also  our  lamented  Polybus  and  Anaxogerous,  preferred  the  free,  wild 
life  of  an  eagle  to  that  of  higher  learning,  philosophy  and  art. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  if  ever  you  should  change  the 
higher  life  for  a  free,  roving  life  in  the  forests,  plains  and  valleys,  I 
hope  you  will  find  it  as  agreeable  as  I  have.  Noble  Four  Hundred,  if 
ever  you  should  drift  into  the  woods  in  different  far  off  distances  and 
scatter  in  various  directions,  you  would  certainly  be  selected  as  chiefs 
of  the  many  native  tribes. 

"But  I  must  enter  upon  my  return  voyage  soon,  so  that  I  must 
not  extend  my  words.  My  raiment,  it  appears,  seems  queer  to  you. 
It  consists  of  the  feathers  of  very  many  kinds  of  birds.  Every  sixth 
feather  composing  my  helmet  is  an  eagle's  feather.  My  raiment  con 
sists  mostly  of  various  colored  parrot  feathers,  as  well  as  the  feathers 
of  the  tiny  humming  bird.  I  must  wear  this  feathery  raiment,  for 
such  has  been  the  raiment  of  chiefs  for  ages. 

"Noble  Four  Hundred  of  Athens,  I  principally  came  here  to  inform 
you  in  regard  to  matters  concerning  the  great  unknown  land.  (Ap 
plause.)  I  must,  after  taking  a  farewell  meal  with  noble  Marstenes, 
start  back  the  coming  night  and  guide  myself  as  accustomed  at  sea 
by  the  Phoenician  Star,  back  to  the  people  who  have  imposed  so  much 


468  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

confidence  in  me,  who  wish  me  to  wear  the  feathery  raiment  and 
helmet  as  an  insignia  of  command,  and  all  of  whom  I  now  so  dearly 
love."  (Great  applause.) 

Marstenes  said:     "Fellow  Athenians,  noble,  brave    Captain  Arteus 
and  myself  will  stand  outside,  near  the  temple  door,  where  all  of  us 
will  have  a  short  opportunity  to  talk  with  Captain  Arteus  before  the 
sun  sets  in  the  west." 
Scriborites : 

It  was  a  happy  meeting  indeed.  But  the  fact  that  there  are 
others  besides  ourselves  in  this  great  unknown  land  was  not  agree 
able  information. 

The  next  morning  Marstenes  sent  out  heralds  to  inform  all  Atho- 
nians  to  meet  at  the  Temple  of  Zeus.  All  Athenians  assembled  at  the 
appointed  time. 

After  Orato  had  prayed  that  we  be  shielded  and  delivered  from  the 
bloodthirsty  bushmen  that  lived  far  distant  in  the  surrounding  coun 
try,  Marstenes  said:  "Fellow  Athonians,  we  all  have  heard  Captain 
Arteus,  now  the  high  chief  of  several  tribes  of  bushmen.  We  know  as 
long  as  he  and  also  Hilicarus  are  alive  that  we  have  little  to  fear 
from  the  bushmen.  But  they  are  mortal.  Upon  our  call  to  arms, 
noble  Athonians,  men,  women,  boys  and  girls,  we  certainly  responded 
in  a  true  military  spirit.  Captain  Arteus  coming  here  has  informed 
us  of  a  surrounding  danger.  It  is  plain  to  us  all  that  we  must  hence 
forth  give  far  greater  attention  and  labor  in  regard  to  matters  of 
possible  war. 

"Fellow  Athonians,  let  each  and  all  of  us  give  their  opinions  in 
regard  to  the  advisability  of  building  a  wall  around  our  city  of 
Athonia." 

A  large  number  have  given  their  opinions  for  and  against  a  wall, 
but  I  shall  not  record  same,  excepting  the  remarks  of  Pindarus. 

He  said :  "Fellow  Athonians,  the  bushmen  are  a  very  great  distance 
from  here  and  they,  even  then,  very  likely,  will  never  know  of  our 
presence  here.  It  may  be  well,  as  Marstenes  says,  to  give  more  atten 
tion  to  drilling  and  matters  of  war  in  general,  but  as  most  of  us 
Athonians  are  hunters,  fishers  and  bushmen  already,  it  seems  that  all 
of  us  may  perhaps  in  time  also  develop  into  bushmen  and,  like  Arteus 
and  Hilicarus  and  the  seamen,  fuse  with  the  bushmen  and  lead  a 
careless,  free  life,  more  agreeable  perhaps  than  by  efforts  towards 
high  learning,  pholosophy  and  art,  when  this  hot  climate  kills  all 
desire  or  appreciation  for  art.  Let  us  give  great  attention  to  speeding 
the  dart,  lance,  and  wielding  the  war  club,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  offen 
sive  or  defensive  action  at  all  times.  (Applause.)  The  building  of  a 
wall  around  Athonia  for  the  present  seems  unnecessary,  and  so  I  find 
is  the  opinion  of  most  of  us." 

Many  others  spoke,  nearly  all  against  the  building  of  a  wall,  so  it 
was  agreed  to  build  no  wall. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


SHIP  BUILT  BY   YOUNG  ATHONIANS 

Although  the  boys  were  greatly  interested  in  the  appearance  of 
Captain  Arteus  and  his  brilliant  feathery  attire,  they  have  not,  in  the 
midst  of  the  excitement  of  the  past  day,  forgotten  to  invite  me,  as 
they  said  they  would,  to  take  a  sail  with  them  in  their  new  sail-boat. 
They  will  call  on  me  tomorrow  before  sunset,  when  I  shall  accompany 
them  to  the  seven-mile  distant  seashore. 

In  the  company  of  five  of  my  former  scholars  I  walked  to  the 
seven-mile  distant  seashore  to  their  ship  for  a  short  sail  out  on  the 
great  ocean.  Their  ship  was  lying  in  the  bay  into  which,  during  a 
dense  foggy  night,  our  great  ship  Aeolus  happened  to  sail  and  became 
a  total  wreck.  It  was  further  up  the  bay,  the  boys  said,  where  they 
had  built  and  launched  their  new  ship.  We  all  went  on  their  ship. 
It  has  two  masts,  one  large  square  sail  for  each  mast,  and  one  jib  in 
front.  The  ship  has  separate  sleeping  apartments  for  twelve  persons; 
also,  below  deck,  is  a  large  fresh  water  box.  The  boys  say  that  it  is 
balanced  so  heavily  below  inside  that  no  storm  can  capsize  it,  for  it 
is  so  loaded  that  the  heavy  bottom  will  assert  itself  and  turn  the  ship's 
masts  up  again.  No  matter,  they  say,  how  strong  the  seas  may  flood 
over  the  ship,  no  water  can  come  into  its  hold,  for  all  is  fastened 
down,  storm  and  waterproof.  The  boys  claim,  in  the  strongest  of 
storms,  their  ship  will  always  remain,  act  and  float  on  the  water  like 
a  duck.  It  is  built  so  strong  and  tight,  they  say,  that  the  water  will 
wash  over  and  run  off  from  it  also  like  on  a  duck's  back.  The  ship 
does  look  very  strong  and  is  tangible  proof  of  their  enthusiasm  for  sea 
manship. 

The  sun  has  lowered  at  the  west  end  of  the  world.  The  boys  say 
they  would  like  to  have  me  sail  out  on  the  great  sea  with  them  for 
quite  a  while  after  it  is  dark.  For,  although  I  taught  them  where  the 
star  is  to  be  looked  for  by  which  Captain  Aretus  and  all  seamen  steer 
their  ships,  they  nevertheless  wanted  to  sail  out  on  the  great  sea  and 
practice  steering  and  guiding  their  ship  by  observing  that  star.  The 
breeze  was  from  the  south,  a  fair  wind  to  sail  out  to  sea  and  return. 

They  hoisted  the  sails  and  with  a  fair  breeze  the  ship  sailed  out  over 
the  heaving  waves.  Phoebus  had  set,  and  the  stars  began  to  appear  in 
greater  and  greater  numbers.  The  ship  cut  the  liquid  blue  with  hiss- 
Ing,  splashing  noise.  We  were  leaving  the  shore  with  great  speed. 

469 


470  Athonia;  or,   The  Original  Four  Hundred 

Darkness  overspreads  all,  but  the  clear,  blue  vault  is  glittering  with  its 
myriads  of  stars. 

The  boys  pointed  out  the  Phoenician  star.  They  said,  when  sailing 
on  a  right  angle,  to  the  left  of  that  star,  the  ship  is  sailing  west,  and 
if  to  the  right  it  is  sailing  east.  Yes,  I  said,  they  were  correct.  But 
I  informed  them  that  on  dark,  cloudy  or  foggy  nights  they  could  not 
know  in  what  direction  their  ship  is  sailing.  They  replied:  "But 
there  are  not  many  of  such  nights."  I  told  them  almost  all  of  the 
nights  and  days  that  we  were  on  the  great  sea  in  the  great  Aeolus 
were  densely  foggy.  They  again  replied  "that  may  not  occur  so  again 
for  many  moons  to  come." 

The  breeze  blew  into  a  gale ;  they  did  not  take  down  any  sails.  The 
ship's  bulwarks  were  under  water  a  large  share  of  the  time.  I  did 
not  dare  to  tell  them  to  turn  about  or  lower  the  sails  some,  for  that 
would  kill  all  the  ideas  they  had  formed  of  me  during  these  large 
number  of  years. 

Near  midnight  they  turned  again  by  the  Phoenician  star  to  the  west. 
The  seas  washed  over  the  whole  ship  at  short  intervals  of  time,  but 
they  shortened  no  sails.  We  were  all  thoroughly  wet,  for  we  remained 
out  on  deck.  At  last,  none  too  soon  for  me,  their  ship  sailed  into  the 
bay  and  along  their  landing  place.  We  all  slept  on  the  ship  until 
morning,  when  we  returned  to  Athonia  thoroughly  convinced  in  my 
mind  that  the  boys  had  inherited  a  true  spirit  of  Grecian  seamanship. 

FIVE   ATHONIAN  YOUTHS   AND   MAIDENS   IMPART  A  SECRET 

TO  SCRIBORITES 
Scriborites : 

Four  days  after  the  sail,  which  I  had  in  company  with  five  of  my 
former  scholars,  the  same  boys  called  upon  me,  accompanied  by  the 
same  number  of  my  former  maiden  scholars.  It  was  at  a  time  of  day 
when  they  knew  I  had  ample  time  to  listen  to  them.  They  were  not 
my  scholars  now,  but  had  been ;  for  they  were  all  over  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  had,  as  far  as  Athonian  conditions  allowed,  all  graduated. 
They  wanted  to  speak  to  me  alone  as  they,  the  five  young  men  and  five 
young  ladies,  had  a  very  important  secret  which  they  wished  to  im 
part  to  me. 

One  of  the  young  men  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  we  asked  you  to 
accompany  us  on  our  ship  the  other  night,  because  we  wanted  to  be 
certain  whether  we  knew  how  to  steer  by  the  Phoenician  star.  Now, 
noble  Scriborites,  noble  Nestor,  that  you  were  to  us,  we  cannot  state 
that  which  we  want  to  have  kept  a  secret  until  you  have  given  us  your 
sacred  promise  to  keep  it  a  secret  for  all  time." 

I  replied:  "Young  ladies  and  young  men,  as  I  must  address  you 
now,  you  are  asking  a  great  deal  of  me.  How  can  I  know  what  your 


Ship  Built  by   Young  Athenians  471 

secret  may  be?  Who  knoweth  the  endless  possibilities  of  the  human 
mind?  How  can  I  know  but  what  your  secret  includes  murder  or  evil 
designs,  or  what  not.  I  have  no  reason  to  suspect  so,  and  surely  do  not, 
But,  young  people,  you  see  in  what  kind  of  a  position  I  might  be 
placed." 

One  of  the  young  men  replied:  "Noble  Scriborites,  if  our  designs 
have  nothing  to  do  with  murder  or  any  other  evil  designs,  would  you 
then  promise  to  keep  secret  that  which  we  asked  you  to?  We  will  say 
this,  that  if,  after  knowing  our  intentions,  you  do  not  call  them  noble 
and  for  a  good  cause,  then  your  promise  need  not  be  kept." 

I  replied  that  under  these  strict  conditions  as  stated  I  would  prom 
ise  to  keep  secret  for  all  time  what  they  this  day  had  to  impart  to  me. 

Another  of  the  young  men  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  under  those 
conditions  only  we  ask  you  to  keep  our  secret  secret.  Noble  Scriborites, 
your  kind  promise  to  keep  our  intentions  and  plans  secret  we  accept." 

One  of  the  other  young  men  voyagers  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  we 
ten  scholars  of  yours  have  agreed  some  long  time  ago,  that  we  would 
join  together  and  attempt  to  perform  a  deed  worthy  of  renown.  We 
have,  each  and  all,  prepared  ourselves  and  studied  up  the  matter  in  re 
gard  to  same  many  moons  ago.  Each  one  of  us  singly  and  also  col 
lectively  have  we  for  moons  given  the  arduous  task  our  finest  grains  of 
thought ;  have  weighed  all  questions  in  regard  to  the  great  venture  pro 
and  con.  We  know  that  all,  if  told  of  our  intentions,  would  at  once 
eay  that  they  were  impossible  to  carry  out.  Our  plans  and  determina 
tions  have  not  sprung  up  like  a  mushroom  over  night,  but  have  been 
of  a  slow,  but  steady,  strong  growth. 

"Noble  Scriborites,  you  have  taught  us  and  also  have  we  heard  from 
our  noble  parents  and  others  of  the  adventure  of  the  great  ship  Aeolus 
on  which  our  noble  fathers  and  mothers  were  wrecked  and  doomed  to 
remain  and  live  in  this  great,  unknown  land.  Noble  Nestor,  none  have 
narrated  the  events  of  the  great  Athenian  commercial  adventure  as 
vividly  as  you  have. 

"From  your  narrative  we  can  plainly  see  where  beautiful  Athens 
lies,  although  far,  far,  far,  o'er  the  wide,  stormy  seas.  Yes,  it  is  seas, 
for  when  a  ship  arrives  at  the  Pillar  of  Hercules  it  must  pass  through 
a  narrow  Strait  of  Herculeum  and  still  sail  far,  far  to  the  east  before  it 
would  arrive  at  beautiful  Athens. 

"To  listen  to  your  narrative  of  that  great  adventure  in  which  your 
noble  self  and  our  noble  fathers  and  mothers  shared,  made  the  blood 
course  swiftly  through  our  bodies.  If  it  did  not,  we  would  not  be 
wortehy  of  the  name  Grecian,  although  we  were  born  in  this  great, 
unknown  land.  Athens,  the  home  of  all  that  is  high  and  noble,  the 
home  of  our  noble  fathers  and  mothers,  shall  we  who  so  often  in  our 


472  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

dreams  have  seen  it  with  its  Acropolis  and  all  its  glory,  loom  up  in  the 
far,  far  distance,  shall  we  never  be  allowed  to  see  it  in  reality? 

"Noble  Seriborites,  you  have  taught  us  to  be  explicit  and  concise 
and  we  will  now  say  that  we  built  our  ship  Poseidon  for  the  purpose  of 
making  an  attempt  to  sail  over  the  great  waters  to  your  and  our  be 
loved  Athens.  That,  noble  Seriborites,  is  the  secret  you  have  promised 
to  keep  for  all  time." 

One  of  the  young  ladies  spoke  up  and  said :  "But  there  is  one  other 
thing,  noble  Seriborites.  You  said  once  that  you  wished  an  eagle 
would  carry  your  scrolls  over  the  sea  to  Athens  so  that  your  fathers 
and  mothers  and  all  Athenians  could  know  what  became  of  the  great 
commercial  venture." 

Another  of  the  young  men  said:  "Yes,  noble  Scriborites,  we  would 
want  to  take  all  your  records  along,  safely  encased  in  a  water  and 
storm-proof  box.  We  want  the  ark,  the  box,  that  contains  all  your 
records,  up  to  the  very  last  day  we  sail  out  on  our  venture.  We  have 
listened  closely,  and  we  know  that  our  ship's  course  must  be  a  little 
north  of  the  rising  sun.  After  sailing  over  six  days,  and  our  ship 
should  meet  disaster  on  the  sea,  we  would  cast  the  water-tight  box, 
holding  the  records,  into  the  sea,  so  that  it  might  possibly  float  to  some 
land,  and,  by  the  will  of  the  gods,  be  made  known  to  some  living  peo 
ple,  and  so  find  their  way  to  Athens.  All  this  we  know  is  not  probable, 
but  it  is  not  impossible.  We  would  paint  the  ark  (the  box)  red,  and 
have  the  records  placed  so  that  one  side  of  the  box  would  always  re 
main  the  top,  while  floating  on  the  sea.  On  the  top  side  we  would 
place  a  wooden  cross,  so  if  seen  floating  on  the  sea  it  will  attract  atten 
tion. 

"If  ever  the  records  should  reach  Athens  its  noble  people  would 
know  what  happened  to  the  great  ship  Aeolus,  and  its  noble  Four  Hun 
dred  of  Athens,  on  their  commercial  adventure.  This,  noble  Scriborites, 
is  the  full  secret  which  you  have  promised  to  keep  secret." 

I  replied:  "Noble  young  ladies  and  young  men,  I  have  listened  to 
your  great  secret  with  mingled  feelings  of  surprise,  sadness,  and  also 
delight.  It  is  manifest  that  you  have  inherited  the  true  Grecian  spirit 
of  fearlessness  and  heroic  adventure.  That  fact,  if  known,  would  cer 
tainly  be  a  great  delight  in  the  eyes  of  your  parents  and  every  citizen 
of  Athonia. 

"Noble  young  men  and  young  ladies,  I  cannot  but  admire  your  brave 
intentions;  but  on  the  other  hand,  I  cannot  admire  your  judgment. 
Your  natural  youthful  ardor  and  high,  intense  enthusiasm  for  a  good 
cause,  has  made  you  quite  oblivious  of  the  impossibility  of  successfully 
carrying  out  your  heroic  intentions.  Know  you  not  that  the  distance 
across  the  great,  stormy  seas  for  your  ship  may  be  termed  endless? 
Know  you  not  that  a  ship  the  size  of  your  Poseidon  will  be  over- 


Ship  Built  by  Young  Athenians  473 

whelmed,  yes,  crushed  by  the  powerful  rising  billows  of  the  great,  un 
known  sea?  Know  you  not  that  adverse  winds  may  drive  your  ship, 
if  not  overwhelmed  by  a  fearful  wave,  helpless  over  the  sea,  until  hun 
ger  claims  you  all?  Many  more  dangers,  like  sea  monsters  and  other 
things,  are  there  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  recall. 

"My  situation  is  this,  which  please  bear  in  mind,  that  I  warn  you 
not  to  attempt  to  carry  out  your  dangerous  design. 

"Noble  young  men,  how  can  you  ask  or  allow  the  young  ladies  to 
enter  upon  such  a  dangerous  adventure?  It  is  too  dangerous  for  men 
to  undertake,  and  much  more  so  for  ladies." 

One  of  the  young  ladies  spoke  up  immediately  and  said:  "Noble 
Scriborites,  they  did  not  ask  us  to  take  part  in  the  adventure.  They 
warned  us  against  the  danger  and  all  its  phases  thoroughly,  but  we 
Insisted  on  accompanying  them,  and  they  acquiesced.  We  have,  as  you 
well  know,  received  strenuous  Spartan  training,  as  you  call  it ;  can  dive 
and  swim,  also  help  hoisting  sails  and  steer  also." 

One  of  the  young  men  said:  "Noble  Nestor,  we  have  warned  the 
young  ladies,  even  stronger  than  you  have  warned  us ;  but  they  insisted 
and  we  can't  and  don't  care  to  resist." 

I  said:  "Noble  young  people,  know  you  not,  in  the  first  place,  it  is 
not  fitting  that  you  should  sail  thus  together  out  on  a  long  sea  voyage?" 

One  of  the  young  men  replied:  "Noble  Scriborites,  on  the  day  we 
sail  we  will  be  made  man  and  wife.  Our  parents  know  in  regard  to 
our  mating  and  have  no  objections." 

"Noble  young  people,  you  have  successfully  circumnavigated  my 
fears.  If  you  could  navigate  so  successfully  with  the  Poseidon  out  on 
the  great,  unknown  ocean,  there  might  be  a  chance  of  the  success  of 
your  heroic  adventure.  Young  ladies,  I  would  warn  you  not  to  take  part 
in  such  a  dangerous  adventure.  It  only  can  lead  to  certain  annihila 
tion." 

One  of  the  young  ladies  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  we  fully  realize 
the  danger  of  the  great,  endless,  unknown,  restless,  dark,  stormy,  pow 
erful,  angry,  ship-destroying  sea.  We  have  heard  it  said  that  the 
ocean  is  a  great,  open  grave.  But  our  lives  are  not  more  valuable  than 
are  those  of  our  lovers.  Wherever  they  go,  we  will  go.  Wherever  they 
sail,  we  will  sail.  Whatever  befalls  them,  will  befall  us.  Their  joy 
shall  be  our  joy,  their  sadness,  our  sadness,  their  success,  our  success, 
their  grave,  our  grave.  Thus  happily  have  the  Fates  decreed." 

One  of  the  young  men  said :  "Noble  Scriborites,  if  by  the  decree  of 
Fate,  our  ship  should  successfully  arrive  at  Athens,  we  would  use  all 
our  endeavors  to  have  the  Athenians  build  another  large  ship  like  the 
Aeolus  was  and  sail  over  here  and  take  you  all  back  to  your  beloved 
Athens  again." 

I  said:    "Young  men  and  ladies,  your  intentions  are  noble,  but  it  is 


474  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

impossible  to  carry  them  out.  Young  people,  when  did  you  intend  to 
start  out  on  your  heroic  voyage?" 

Several  answered,   "Today!  Today!  Tomorrow!" 

"Now,  young  people,  I  will  in  all  events,  as  promised,  keep  your 
designs  a  secret  to  the  end  of  my  days ;  but  I  again  ask  you  to  recon 
sider  the  matter  more  fully  and  make  your  final  decision  known  to  me 
one-half  moon  from  this  day." 

That  was  satisfactory  and  they  all  departed,  laughing  in  youthful 
exuberance. 

While  placing  additional  rolls  in  the  ark  kept  in  the  temple  of  Zeus 
the  temple  was  swayed  by  a  fierce  earthquake,  many  of  its  large  stones 
falling  to  the  ground.  Many  of  the  houses  of  Athonia  were  damaged. 
The  earth  trembled  and  swayed  fearfully.  It  created  great  consterna 
tion  among  our  people.  The  ground  has  often  before  rumbled  but  until 
lately,  no  buildings  have  ever  tumbled. 

THE    FIVE    ATHONIAN    YOUTHS'    AND    MAIDENS'    FAREWELL 

VISIT  TO  SCRIBORITES 
Scriborites : 

Promptly  on  the  day  set  our  young-  friends,  the  five  young  maidens 
and  five  young  men,  who  honored  me  with  their  great  secret  in  regard 
to  their  heroic  plan  of  sailing  in  their  ship  Poseidon  over  the  great,  un 
known  sea  to  Athens,  presented  themselves.  I  asked  them  what  conclu 
sion  they  had  arrived  at. 

One  of  the  young  men  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  we  have  studied 
these  matters  for  years.  We  have  given  our  plan  of  sailing  to  Athens 
much  more  thought  than  have  any  of  our  citizens,  therefore  we  con 
sider  our  opinion  in  regard  to  the  adventure  above  those  of  others. 
Noble  Scriborites,  we  know  the  dangers  all,  and  we  may  find  a  watery 
grave,  but  no  great  event  of  renown  can  ever  be  attempted,  if  one  would 
shrink  from  them  on  account  of  probable  death. 

"Noble  Scriborites,  we  have  determined  to  venture  upon  our  voyage 
to  Athens.  We  have,  from  observations  and  inquiries,  informed  our 
selves  that  this  season  of  the  year  is  most  favorable  for  such  a  voyage. 
We  have  prepared  everything,  and  will  start  on  our  venture  early  on  the 
morrow.  Orato  will  mate  us  just  before  our  ship  starts  on  its  voyage. 
We  have  informed  our  young  friends  that  we  are  going  on  a  short 
wedding-trip  sail.  Our  young  friends  are  all  going  to  come  to  the  sea 
shore  with  flowers  and  sing  several  songs.  They  do  not  know  that  they 
will  never  see  us  again.  For  us  it  will  be  a  long  pleasure  trip — life  or 
death,  as  long  as  we  are  all  together.  Our  sailing  whither,  must  remain 
unknown  forever." 

I  said :  "Noble  young  friends,  I  am  sorry  that  such  handsome  young 
men  and  stately,  charming  young  ladies,  with  the  fresh  bloom  and  heroic 


The  ship  Poseidon  and  its  five  Athenian  young  couples  on  their  daring  attempt  to  sail 
to  Athens;  and  if  overtaken  by  disaster,  to  throw  the  red  ark  containing  the  full  story 
of  the  commercial  adventure  of  the  "Four  Hundred  of  Athens"  into  the  sea,  with  the 
possibility  of  its  washing  ashore  on  some  land  toward  the  East  and  its  contents  possibly 
be  made  known  to  Athenians.  (See  page  475.) 


Ship  Built  by   Young  Athenians  475 

spirit  of  youth,  have  determined  upon  such  a  daring,  impossible-of -suc 
cess  adventure.  As  you  are  going  to  start  upon  your  hazardous  voyage 
on  the  morrow  I  will  hasten  to  the  temple  of  Zeus  and  get  the  ark  in 
which  the  rolls  containing  the  records  are  kept,  which  beg-in  one-half 
moon  before  our  ship's  Aeolus's  departure  from  Athens  up  to  the  last 
day  before  your  ship  Poseidon  starts  on  its  still  greater,  more  danger 
ous  adventure." 

One  of  the  young  men  said:  "Noble  Scriborites,  some  days  ago  we 
took  the  size  of  that  small  box  in  which  the  records  are  k«pt,  and  we 
have  made  these  two  extra  boxes,  so  there  will  be  three  boxes  in  all, 
one  within  the  other." 

I  said:  "I  shall,  after  you  have  sailed,  rehearse  the  records  from 
memory  in  a  condensed  way  to  my  largest  scholars,  who  will  inscribe 
them  on  parchment  rolls,  to  be  preserved  in  the  temple." 

After  I  returned  from  the  temple  with  the  ark  of  records  we  exam 
ined  its  strength  and  tightness  against  water,  coming  in  from  the  out 
side  and  agreed  that  in  itself  it  seemed  water-tight.  But  realizing, 
under  the  conditions  it  might  float  on  the  restless,  dashing  ocean,  it  was 
agreed  to  place  it  inside  of  two  extra  boxes  for  greater  strength  and 
safety  from  water.  The  middle  box  was  coated  with  pitch.  The  inside 
record  scroll  ark  is  about  two  hands  long,  wide  and  high.  The  middle 
and  outside  boxes  are,  of  course,  somewhat  larger. 

One  of  the  young  men,  as  he  placed  the  two  outer  boxes  alongside 
of  the  record  scroll  ark,  said:  "On  this  large,  outside,  red  box,  we  in 
tend  to  indent  a  straight  mark  in  the  wood  each  day  to  show  to  the 
finders,  if  any,  how  long  our  trip  was  out  on  the  ship  from  Athonia,  its 
starting  place.  This  record,  which  goes  into  the  ark,  will  call  the 
finder's  attention  to  the  number  of  such  outside  indentions." 

One  of  the  young  ladies  said :  "Tomorrow  morning  we  will  be  sail 
ing  in  the  rising-sun  direction  with  great  speed,  for  the  wind  is  favor 
able." 

I  said:  "I  will  not  view  the  ship's  departure  for,  as  one  who  knew 
their  secret,  it  was  best  to  remain  away. 

"I  wanted  to  inscribe  the  names  of  the  ten  adventurers,  well  known 
to  me,  on  the  record  scroll,  but  they  said,  'No!  only  refer  to  the  Four 
Hundred  of  Athens,  by  which  our  parents  are  known.  If  our  adven 
ture  is  successful  we  will  see  to  it  that  our  names  are  known ;  but  if  it 
is  unsuccessful  or  a  failure,  we  do  not  hanker  after  such  renown.' " 

I  replied:  "Noble  young  ladies,  noble  young  men,  noble  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  Four  Hundred,  noble  Athenians,  my  heart  is  too  full 
of  feeling  to  give  appropriate  expression  upon  this  last  farewell  meet 
ing.  I  can  only  say  many  will  be  my  sincere  prayers  to  our  gods  for 
the  success  of  your  noble,  heroic  adventure." 

Holding  up  the  record  scroll  ark,  I  said :    "Noble,  heroic  adventurers, 


476  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

this  ark  contains  the  whole  story  connected  with  the  commercial  adven 
ture  of  the  great  ship  Aeolus.  The  following  we  will  now  add  to  the 
record  scroll;  and  then  the  bright,  red  box  with  the  red  painted  cross 
standing  on  it  will  inclose  and  contain  all." 

Several  of  the  young  ladies  and  young  men  said :  "Noble  Scrihorites, 
we  do  not  believe  it  will  come  to  pass  that  we  will  have  to  cast  the  ark 
into  the  ocean,  for  we  expect  to  deliver  it  to  our  Athenian  grandfathers 
in  person." 

The  following  was  added  to  the  record  scroll  and  then  the  red  ark 
securely  closed,  contained  the  full  story  of  the  great  commercial  adven 
ture  of  the  ship  Aeolus,  its  Four  Hundred  and  Athonia. 

To  the  Noble  Finder  of  This  Red  Ark,  Greetings: 

Be  it  known  to  you  that  this  ark  was  cast  into  the  sea  from  the 
ship  Poseidon,  which  sailed  from  Athonia,  situated  in  an  unknown  land, 
near  the  setting  sun,  bound  for  Athens,  in  Attica,  Greece. 

Noble  finder!  We  beg  you  from  the  depths  of  our  hearts,  please 
spare  no  efforts  to  have  this  ark  and  its  contents  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  citizens  of  Athens  in  Attica,  Greece. 

For  such  kind,  heroic  deed,  we  will  ever  pray  may  you  ever  receive 
the  blessings  of  your  gods. 

THE  NOBLE  CITIZENS  OF  ATHONIA, 
Formerly  the  Four  Hundred  of  Athens. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


ADDENDUM 

Zenothemis,  my  typical,  enthusiastic  Greek  friend,  said  -'My  free 
American  Friend,  this  is  the  end  of  the  story.  At  the  beginning  you 
impatiently  asked  if  the  ship  Aeolus  and  its  adventurers  were  ever 
heard  of  again,  and  I  answered  NO.  You  said,  'How  could  the  events 
of  the  voyage  become  known  to  the  people  of  Athens?'  I  said  that  my 
story  at  its  close  would  clear  away  that  mystery  like  the  mist  before  the 
rising  sun."  I  (Delhurst)  said,  "I  suppose  that  the  five  young  ladies 
and  the  five  young  men  arrived  safely  at  Athens  and  presented  the  ark 
containing  the  whole  story  of  events  to  their  grandfathers." 

Zenothemis  replied :  "No.  Not  the  least  was  ever  heard  of  them  or 
their  ship.  It  must  be  remembered  that  from  the  records  of  tradition 
it  is  thought  those  events  came  to  pass  perhaps  one  generation  after 
Homer's  time.  Therefore,  conjecture  must  play  an  unavoidable 
part. 

"My  Noble  Grandfather,"  continued  Zenothemis,  "who  rehearsed  the 
story  to  me,  as  a  writing  lesson,  while  a  boy,  put  most  faith  in  the 
theory  that  perhaps  a  Phoenician  ship  driven  out  of  the  sight  of  land 
on  the  ocean  west  of  the  Straits  of  Herculeum  might  have  picked  up  the 
red,  floating  ark  and  brought  it  to  Carthage.  From  there  it  might  wan 
der  with  a  Phoenician  ship  to  Tyre,  from  whence  the  story  might  have 
become  known  in  Athens.  Tradition  also  has  it  that  the  records  found 
a  place  and  were  kept  for  centuries  in  an  oriental  library." 

"Friend  Zenothemis,"  I  said,  "where  do  you  conjecture  may  have 
been  the  land  on  the  shores  of  which  the  great  ship  Aeolus  ran  and  was 
wrecked — the  great,  unknown  land,  with  a  tropical  climate  where  the 
city  of  Athonia  stood?" 

My  Greek  friend  replied,  in  a  very  low,  thoughtful  manner:  "My 
Free  American  Friend,  in  speaking  of  events  that  might,  could,  would 
or  should  have  come  to  pass,  in  the  misty  past,  we  cannot  apply  the 
words,  facts  or  truth.  We  must  even  more  than  conjecture,  we  must 
form  a  possible  theory.  You  remember,"  he  continued,  "the  story  tells 
us  that  Athonia  was  situated  in  a  tropical  climate.  Reasoning  from 
the  story  closely,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  Athonia  was  situated  near  a 
bay  on  the  east  coast  of  Yucatan,  Central  America." 

"Yucatan,"  I  said.  "Well,  noble  friend  Zenothemis,  can  you  give  any 
other  evidences  that  strengthens  and  confirms  you  in  your  belief?" 

Zenothemis  replied :  "Friend  Delhurst,  it  is  near  noon  and  is  getting 

477 


478  Athonia;  or,  The  Original  Four  Hundred 

uncomfortably  warm  up  here  on  the  Acropolis.  I  will  hasten  to  answer 
your  question  so  that  we  can  go  down  to  the  city  (Athens)." 

"I  suppose,"  he  said,  "you  are  noting  down  in  shorthand,  in  hooks 
and  crooks,  all  that  I  say  in  regard  to  the  great  Athenian  commercial 
adventure  of  the  misty  past." 

I  replied,  "Certainly ;  not  only  the  story  but  all  that  has  any  remote 
bearing  on  the  great  adventure,  will  find  its  way  with  me  to  America." 

Zenothemis  replied:  "I  greatly  hope  so.  Americans  ought  to  know 
that  Athenians  were  daring1  sea  rovers. 

"But  I  must  answer  your  question  and  give  additional  reasons  why 
I  believe  Athonia  was  situated  in  Yucatan,  Central  America. 

•4In  books  and  histories  written  in  our  twentieth  century  we  read 
that  upon  the  arrival  of  the  first  Spaniards  in  Central  America  they 
found  established  forms  of  government  and  cities.  They  saw,  says  a 
noted  author,  although  at  rare  intervals,  people  with  fair  complexions, 
blonde  hair  and  blue  eyes.  The  people  of  Mexico  and  Central  America 
were  advanced  in  human  affairs  beyond  comparison  with  the  other  peo 
ple  of  America.  The  people  of  Yucatan,  Central  America,  Mexico,  were 
on  their  way  towards  human  civilization.  The  first  Spaniards  reported 
that  there  was  a  tradition  among  the  Indians  of  Central  America,  that 
in  past  far  off  ages,  a  number  of  wise  bearded  white  men  came  to  their 
country  from  over  the  eastern  sea  and  remained  among  them.  Also  is 
it  claimed,  by  a  noted  author,  that  the  Maya  language  of  Yucatan  con 
tained  a  number  of  Greek  words. 

"I  see  you  intend  to  ask  what  became  of  the  city  of  Athonia  and  the 
Four  Hundred.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  do  not  know.  Friend  Delhurst,  we 
remember  the  story  tells  us  that  the  hot  climate  was  found  hostile  to 
energy  and  ambition;  that  the  number  of  Athenians  who  preferred 
hunting,  trapping  and  fishing  lives  to  that  of  labor  such  as  is  required  to 
build  up  a  city  of  art  and  learning,  were  growing  constantly  and  stead 
ily  in  numbers. 

The  records  also  told  us  that  after  being  there  sixteen  years  they 
became  aware  that  a  number  of  native  tribes  lived  in  somewhat  dis 
tant  different  parts  of  their  unknown  land.  Also,  stated  the  records, 
that  earthquakes  have  occurred.  Looking  at  such  conditions  and  situa 
tions  we  cannot  know  whether  Athonia  grew  into  a  large,  powerful 
city  or  nation,  and  was  destroyed  by  earthquakes,  pestilence  or  war 
from  surrounding  wild  tribes ;  for  the  real  fact  is,  we  know  nothing. 

"But,"  continued  Zenothemis,  "from  the  close  study  I  have  given  to 
the  conditions  and  surroundings  of  Athonia,  as  given  in  the  record 
rolls,  I  have  come  to  the  same  conclusion  as  my  grandfather,  who  made 
the  event  of  the  misty  past  known  to  me,  namely:  that  gradually  or 
maybe  through  war  with  the  Indians,  they  adopted  the  bushmen's  life 
and  gradually  fused  with  the  Indians,  among  whom  they  naturally 
would  be  selected  as  chiefs  and  perhaps  also  queens.  Their  superior 
wisdom  could  not  fail  to  exert  an  uplifting  influence  among  the  Indians 


The  red  ark  containing  the  whole  story  of  the  Grecian  commercial  adventure:  sup 
posed  to  have  been  cast  overboard  as  the  ship  Poseidon  was  being  overwhelmed  by  the 
sea,  and  the  ark  later  found  on  the  great  ocean  near  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  by  some 
Phoenician  ship.  (See  page  478.) 


Addendum  479 

of  the  surrounding  country,  as  testified  to  in  the  case  of  Yucatan,  Mex 
ico,  Central  America." 

"Mr.  Zenothemis,"  I  asked,  "Can  this  legend  of  'Athonia'  be  classed 
as  history?" 

"No,"  he  replied.  "Legends  that  treat  of  events  that  are  supposed  to 
have  taken  place  less  than  a  century  after  Homer's  time,  can  not  be 
accepted  as  history ;  but  this  story  of  'Athonia'  can  perhaps  be  classed 
along  with  such  legends  of  the  nebulous  past  as  'Plato's  Lost  Atlantis.'  " 

Zenothemis  arose  and  said :  "Friend  Delhurst,  we  are  now  ready  to 
pass  down  the  Acropolis  to  the  city.  Our  task  of  narrating  and  noting 
down  the  legend  of  'Athonia'  is  now  finished." 

On  walking  down  the  west  side  of  the  Acropolis,  Zenothemis  said : 
"My  free,  American  Friend,  Mr.  Delhurst,  the  rightful  glory  and  re 
nown  of  Columbus,  as  discoverer  of  America,  is  not  diminished  in  the 
least  by  the  not  impossible,  though  improbable  fact  that  America  was 
discovered  by  the  Athenian  400." 

(The  End) 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


*to 


^Ein^er^R 


LD  21-95wi-7,'37 


08239 

, 


/s// 
.S* 

23941? 


